Earlier this month, Chelsea recalled Andrey Santos from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
Santos encountered challenges at the City Ground, failing to secure a starting position in any Premier League match during his time there.
According to the Evening Standard, he is deliberating until next week before deciding whether to stay at Chelsea or pursue another loan opportunity.
Andrey Santos is not the only player Chelsea has brought back this month; several others, including Cesare Casadei, have returned to Stamford Bridge.
Casadei, initially loaned to Leicester City for the season, has now been confirmed by manager Mauricio Pochettino to be part of the first team for the remainder of the campaign.
The resolution of Santos’ future seems imminent, and a loan move appears to be the optimal choice, especially with Casadei’s confirmed retention.
Managing both Santos and Casadei simultaneously might not be the most sensible decision.
With Cesare Casadei remaining at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino currently has five fit midfielders: the Italy U21 international, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, and Carney Chukwuemeka.
The return of Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu from injuries will add two more options for the Argentine.
Given the available choices and Santos’ limited playing time in the first half of the season, it’s likely that he will have minimal opportunities in west London.
Considering his lack of action at Forest, where he made just one Premier League appearance, both the young Brazilian and Chelsea may prefer another loan spell for him.
The hope is that Santos’ stint elsewhere proves more successful than his time at Forest, providing him with more playing time and opportunities to develop.
Chelsea’s decision to bring back several loaned players underscores the strategic approach in managing the squad and ensuring that each player’s development aligns with the club’s long-term goals.
As the transfer window progresses, the fate of Andrey Santos and other returning players will be closely monitored, with decisions likely shaped by the desire for regular playing time and the overall strategic vision for Chelsea’s squad development.
