Exclusive: Chelsea’s £13m Brazil international could end up at Sunderland or West Brom this month

Follow us on Google Discover

• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC Football understands that Chelsea could send Andrey Santos to the Championship after a difficult loan spell at Nottingham Forest with Sunderland, West Brom and Hull City among the possible destinations.

With Andrey Santos departing Nottingham Forest after one of the most forgettable loan spells in modern Premier League history, HITC Football understand that Chelsea may opt to send the seldom-seen midfielder out to a Championship club for the remainder of the season, in the hope that he can find opportunities somewhat easier to come by in the second tier.

Chelsea recall Andrey Santos from Nottingham Forest

Chelsea paid an initial £13 million to sign Santos from Vasco da Gama 12 months ago.

The highly-rated 19-year-old played just seven top-flight minutes in Forest colours, however, and Chelsea understandably have concerns about what another difficult spell at another Premier League club would do for his reputation.

As such, a few months in the Championship could be more to Chelsea’s liking. HITC has been told that Sunderland, Hull City and West Bromwich Albion are among the options being considered as things stand.

Santos, capped once by Brazil, shot to fame back home after scoring eight times from central midfield for Vasco da Gama in 2022. He was linked with big-money moves to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and – ironically enough – Sunderland’s bitter North East rivals Newcastle United before Chelsea secured the youngsters services.

Santos, technically gifted but tenacious too, idolises Casemiro, Thiago Alcantara and Newcastle’s own Bruno Guimaraaes.

Sunderland is an option

“Physically, he is a monster,” Lyon legend and former Brazil star Juninho once said. “Without the ball, his participation in the game is total. I want to see his GPS, because he doesn’t stop! And technically, he’s way above the others.

“He’s not going to be better than me, he’s going to be much better than me. He is a much more complete player. At 18, I didn’t play half as much as he does. I’m not ashamed to say that.”

Sunderland may consider themselves well placed to win the race for Santos. The Black Cats have a superb track record when it comes to promoting and developing exciting youngsters, such as Amad Diallo, Jack Clarke and Pierre Ekwah.