Chelsea’s youth recruitment has been nothing short of outstanding in recent years, and one of the brightest gems from that project is now attracting serious attention.

According to French outlet Le10 Sport, Arsenal are “hot” for Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos, following his standout performances during a loan spell at Strasbourg.

The 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been one of the revelations of the Ligue 1 season, scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists in 33 games. It’s a rare return for a central midfielder – and a reminder of why Chelsea fought hard to bring him to Stamford Bridge from Vasco da Gama in January 2023.
Arsenal’s interest is unsurprising. Mikel Arteta is building a dynamic, youthful squad, and Santos fits the mould perfectly: composed in possession, press-resistant, aggressive off the ball, and now adding goals to his game. But Chelsea fans will be rightly concerned about the idea of strengthening a direct Premier League rival.

Reports suggest Chelsea are reluctant to part ways with the talented Brazilian, but also hint that the club could be open to a sale. While Financial Fair Play may be forcing difficult decisions, letting go of Santos now – especially to Arsenal – would feel like a self-inflicted wound.

Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be monitoring Santos, having previously tried to sign him from Vasco. That growing European interest only underscores just how special a talent Chelsea have on their hands.
The bigger picture here is clear: Chelsea must be careful not to repeat past mistakes. The departures of players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah came back to haunt the club. Andrey Santos has all the tools to become a top midfielder for club and country – the kind that thrives in the Premier League for a decade.
The message from fans should be simple: don’t sell to Arsenal. In fact, don’t sell at all. Andrey Santos could be the perfect midfield piece for the new era.