Can Brazil U20 captain Andrey Santos join the Blues yet?

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has been taking the footballing world by storm these last few weeks.

It’s been a real whirlwind for him since making his big move to Chelsea at the start of January, but instead of coming into the squad, the youngster has been off with Brazil U20s winning the South American Championship.

Not only did he win the competition, he was joint top goalscorer from midfield, he captained the side all the way through, and he has just been named the player of the tournament.

So why hasn’t he been playing for Chelsea then?

Well, the club have yet to have a work permit accepted for him to play in the UK. They are still trying to push this through and it appears that Santos is confident of that happening, saying he will now be back with Chelsea in a tweet thanking the club for their congratulations today.

Andrey Santos showcased his leadership qualities with a vital strike in their final game against Uruguay on Sunday.

During the January transfer window, the Blues signed Santos from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama for £18 million. Chelsea were very keen on him following a stellar showing for Vasco in Brazil’s second division in 2022.

However, that is where the problem lies; Santos played in the second tier in South America. This, according to Globo, means that the midfielder has not earned sufficient “points” to qualify for a UK work permit.

As a result, the Daily Mail reported that Chelsea applied for an exceptional talent visa.

But Santos’ awesome displays on the (U20) international stage could help with the Blues’ appeal for the visa. The club is, therefore, increasingly confident that they can secure that crucial work permit.

In addition, per GiveMeSport, Graham Potter has “plans” for the Brazilian to be a factor for Chelsea in 2022/23.

Currently, the Blues are trying to work their way back to the top four spots. They are stuck in ninth place, despite their heavy spending. If he is allowed the visa, maybe Andrey Santos can provide a further energy boost in the Chelsea engine room.

For now, though, he is still stuck and unable to play in England. If the club cannot sort out a work permit this season, Santos could remain in South America on loan. For example, Vasco, now in Brasileiro Serie A, would happily take their academy graduate back.

Meanwhile, a number of teams competing in the Copa Libertadores are interested in taking on Santos.