A key part of Chelsea’s recent summer transfer window was getting the best loan deals possible for some of their players not in the immediate first team plans.
There were some they would like to have moved on permanently. Both Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah are still on the books despite featuring regularly for other Premier League sides this season.
Impressive performances from some of those elsewhere have begun to leave an impact on some staff at Chelsea about whether they could be a key part of the future.
Djordje Petrovic is off to a great start to life at Strasbourg, impressing the Blues in the process.
His current club teammate, Andrey Santos, has also picked up where he left off from in terms of impressive performances for the Ligue 1 side.
Andrey Santos the best 20-year-old in Europe
The Blues are reportedly thrilled with what they are seeing from the Brazilian, with him certainly being in their minds for the future of the club.
His performances actually exceed what anyone else his age is doing in top football so far. According to WhoScored, he is the highest rated 20-year-old to regularly feature in Europe this season.
There were perhaps some who thought this season would be the one where Santos would make his way into the Chelsea first team, with his quality being clear to see.
Thiago Silva tips Santos for ‘wonderful future’
Former Blue Thiago Silva has tipped him for a ‘wonderful future’, although he is going to be facing a tough competition to break into the starting side in the coming years.
The club spent big money to secure the signings of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, and they are now becoming to come good as a pairing in the middle of the park.
With Romeo Lavia also impressing in his brief appearances for the Blues so far, the midfield is an area that will be hotly contested for roles for years to come.
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