Barcelona enter talks to sign Chelsea star who has NEVER played for the club

Cameron Smith

• 7 Jul 2023 22:46 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are interested in a shock move for Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos, according to sensational reports from Brazil.

Santos, 19, joined the west London club for €12.5 million in January, but was immediately loaned back to Vasco da Gama until the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

The young midfielder made his senior Brazil debut against Morocco in March after impressing manager Tite during the U20 Copa America earlier in the year. Santos captained Brazil to the title and netted a tournament-high six goals to claim the Golden Boot.

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He returned to Chelsea in July and began pre-season training with the first-team squad this week. Reports have touted Santos with a possible loan move to Strasbourg following Chelsea’s acquisition of the Ligue 1 club, but Mauricio Pochettino is said to be keen on giving Santos an opportunity to prove his value during pre-season.

Benfica and Porto have both been attributed with loan interest in Santos.

However, reports have emerged from Brazil that Barcelona have entered negotiations to sign Santos from Chelsea, despite the fact he’s yet to make his Blues debut.

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Santos to Barcelona?

Brazilian journalist Lucas Pedrosa has reported that Barcelona sporting director Deco is a huge admirer of Santos and that Xavi has given his blessing for the club to pursue a move for the 19-year-old.

The Blaugrana reportedly see him as a potential long-term heir to Sergio Busquets, who joined Inter Miami on a free transfer when his Barca contract expired earlier this summer.

Barcelona had previously scouted Santos, but were beaten to the punch by Chelsea in January. Now, they are reportedly keen on making the transfer a reality.

However, Chelsea have already lost Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount this summer, while Jorginho departed in January.

This leaves Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka as the only senior options left over from last season’s squad, meaning Pochettino is likely to want additions to this area of the pitch, rather than more exits.