Chelsea’s talks with Palmeiras regarding a loan move for Andrey Santos have hit a speedbump with the two clubs disagreeing over the length of the deal.
The Blues’ new £18m signing was denied a work permit for the Premier League, and will not be allowed to play for the club at the present time.
A temporary return to Brazil has been chosen as the solution with the player choosing Palmeiras due to their record of developing young players.
However, the Evening Standard report that there remains a final hurdle regarding the length of the loan with the Blues preferring to see him return for next season and Palmeiras insisting to have him until December.
Santos missed out on a work permit by just one point, because of the other midfielders that the Blues have brought, including additions snapped up later in the January transfer window.
Santos, 18, was signed towards the start of 2023, as one of eight signings for the west London club this winter.
Chelsea reportedly applied for an exceptional talent visa to allow Santos to play in the Premier League, though by a narrow decision, it was not successful. Perameters for work permits are set by the FA and the UK Home Office.
Calls to consider Santos as an indispensable player to Graham Potter’s side have not worked, with £107m deadline day British record signing Enzo Fernandez and loanee Denis Zakaria both in the same position.
Speaking in Chelsea’s pre-match press conference ahead of their Premier League with Southampton on Saturday, Potter mentioned the Brazilian’s situation.
Potter said: ‘Santos is still in the same place. We’re looking at what the options are for him.’
