Barcelona are reportedly keen on signing 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos in the summer transfer window.
Andrey Santos recently completed a move to Stamford Bridge. But a report from Daily Mail claims that Barcelona are already looking to secure the services of the 19-year-old Chelsea wonderkid this summer.
Santos is highly rated in Brazil, and he has a big future ahead of him. It would be very surprising if Chelsea decided to sanction his departure any time soon. Chelsea paid £18 million for the midfielder back in January.
The Blues are putting together a formidable squad for the future, and Santos is likely to be a big part of their future. The 19-year-old has all the attributes to develop into a quality first-team player for Chelsea. So it will be interesting to see if Mauricio Pochettino is willing to give the South American midfielder ample chances next season.
The midfielder has already impressed for his country in the youth level, and he has the potential to succeed in the Premier League as well. But the teenage sensation has captured the attention of several top clubs from Italy and Portugal. Meanwhile, Barcelona need midfield reinforcements and therefore the links with Santos are hardly a surprise.
They are keeping tabs on other South American talents as well. And the Blaugrana have been linked with a move for Vitor Roque in recent weeks. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona can tempt Chelsea into selling the midfielder. However, given their financial situation, it is fair to assume that Barcelona might not be able to submit a lucrative offer for the player.
Chelsea are in a healthy financial situation, and they do not need to raise money through sales. They have already sanctioned the departures of a number of midfielders this summer. So Santos is likely to have an important role in the first team next year.
It would be foolish of them to sanction the talented youngster’s departure without giving him a first-team opportunity and a regular run of games in English football. There is no doubt that the 19-year-old has the pedigree to develop into a top-class player in the near future. So perhaps, a move to Barcelona will have to wait for now.
