REVEALED: Chelsea's SECRET weapon in Brennan Johnson chase
Tom Weber
- Updated: 21 Aug 2023 18:00 BST
- 4 min read
Chelsea could send Andrey Santos on loan to Nottingham Forest to sweeten the deal for Brennan Johnson, according to a report.
The Blues are still looking for a forward. After being rebuffed by Michael Olise, who decided to sign a new Crystal Palace contract instead, Chelsea are looking at potential alternatives to boost their attacking output.
Indeed, their recent game against West Ham showed that the Blues need to strengthen in that department with Christopher Nkunku out injured and Nicolas Jackson failing to really live up to the hype just yet. Chelsea didn't necessarily play badly, but it is clear that they need more firepower after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
EXCLUSIVE: Balogun agrees Chelsea terms but Blues face Arsenal battle over transfer fee
This has seen them being linked with Bradley Barcola of Lyon. However, it is currently Paris Saint-Germain who lead the race to sign the French wonderkid, though Chelsea certainly appreciate the 20-year-old.
Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson has also emerged as a potential option, and the Blues have a secret weapon that could help them get a deal over the line.
A swap deal?
The Daily Mail claims that Forest have turned their attention to Andrey Santos after being rejected by Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana. The Chelsea youngster has caught the eye at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues are open to potentially sending him out on loan.
In fact, the report goes on to say that the idea of using Santos as a makeweight in a deal that would see Brennan Johnson go the other way appeals to some officials at the London club.
READ: Why Chelsea NEED to sign Arsenal's Balogun
Johnson scored eight goals in the Premier League last term and currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €34.4 million, which means that Chelsea would have to put a pretty penny on the table in order to convince Forest to sell, even if a Santos loan were included in the deal.
