Chelsea haven't had much to shout about this season but Estevao's emergence as a first team player has been a rare positive.
Enzo Maresca's surprise exit and Liam Rosenior's subsequent appointment has led to the Blues having an underwhelming campaign.
Although the side are still in the FA Cup with a favourable quarter final tie against Port Vale to come, the side have struggled in the Premier League and Champions League.
It hasn't all been bad news, though. Estevao has been impressive in his breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from Palmeiras last year.
The Brazilian winger missed six matches earlier in the year after injuring his hamstring but has still managed to reach double figures for direct goal contributions in all competitions.
It's clear the 18-year-old has what it takes to be a regular starter, especially when you see how he compares to other senior players in the same position.
Estevao a lot more effective than Alejandro Garnacho
Even though Estevao has started just10 Premier League matches — four less than Alejandro Garnacho — the Brazilian has proved to be a lot more effective.
According to performance data from stats giants Opta, not only has the exciting teenager scored more league goals than his Argentine teammate but his directness has seen him successfully dribble past opponents (29) nearly three times more than the former Manchester United winger.
Premier League Stats | Estevao | Alejandro Garnacho |
|---|---|---|
Minutes Played | 762 | 1,125 |
Goals | 2 | 1 |
Assists | 2 | 4 |
Successful Dribbles | 29 | 11 |
Shots on Target | 7 | 7 |
Irrespective of the side's abysmal performance against Everton last time out, Estevao, who only featured for 20 minutes in that game, played his heart out and showed real passion and fight.
So, with the pressure mounting on Rosenior, who is on a four-league game losing streak, it's a no-brainer that he should consider his enigmatic number 41, and certainly more so than Garnacho.
Garnacho's transfer to Chelsea looking worse by the day
After falling out with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, Garnacho was given the green light to move to Stamford Bridge in a £40 million deal last year.
While United aren't often known for their dealings with direct rivals, it seemed offloading Garnacho was a priority and now we're getting a glimpse at why that might've been.
Scoring just one Premier League goal all season, the 21-year-old has been a major disappointment. He remains a regular on Chelsea's left flank but serious questions are already being asked about signing a replacement in the summer.
Garnacho's deal, which sees him earn around £110,000-per week, runs until 2032, so any club considering gambling on him would still need to stump up a significant fee, and with his performances not reflecting his worth, it's hard to foresee any serious takers in the summer.