Arsenal are making a strong push to land Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, facing competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the 21-year-old Brazilian.
Santos, who joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in January 2023, has had a mixed journey through Europe so far. After a brief return to his former club, he joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2023–24 season. However, with just two appearances in five months, Chelsea recalled him in January.
The move seemed concerning at the time, but his career turned around after he joined Strasbourg in February. There, Santos quickly became a key figure, scoring 11 goals and helping lift the club to sixth in Ligue 1. Strasbourg, Chelsea’s French affiliate club, have since extended his loan.
This resurgence has attracted serious interest from PSG, fresh off a Ligue 1 title and a Champions League final appearance. But according to French outlet Le10Sport, Arsenal are also pushing hard for Santos and are prepared to battle the French champions in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are navigating a bloated squad under Enzo Maresca and could be open to offloading players like Santos—especially if it leads to a profit on their £18 million investment.
With a major overhaul expected at Stamford Bridge, several names such as Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Trevoh Chalobah could also be moved on. Other players out on loan, including Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Raheem Sterling, may not return either.
In attack, Chelsea are considering Ipswich striker Liam Delap to address underwhelming performances from Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. A new goalkeeper is also being considered, given Robert Sanchez’s shaky form.
Over at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is preparing for a transformative summer after another trophyless season. With midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey likely on the way out, Arsenal are eager to reinforce that area. Martin Zubimendi is expected to arrive from Real Sociedad, and Santos could become the next addition.
Arteta has been vocal about the need for a deeper and more dynamic squad. A new striker is also high on the list, with Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, and Viktor Gyokeres among the targets.
Defensively, Arsenal are determined to keep William Saliba amid reported interest from Real Madrid, as Arteta focuses on maintaining strong foundations while pushing for progress.
The manager has acknowledged the size of the upcoming window, calling it a crucial opportunity to evolve the team. With serious activity expected across the board, Arsenal’s pursuit of Andrey Santos may just be the beginning.