CHELSEA have signed a whopping 47 players since Todd Boehly took over three years ago.
However, many of them have failed to impress.
GettyAndrey Santos joined Chelsea in January 2023 but is yet to make a competitive appearance for the first team[/caption]
AFPThe Brazilian has enjoyed a breakthrough season on loan at Strasbourg[/caption]
AFPGoalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is also impressing for the French side[/caption]
Some have barely touched the pitch in Chelsea blue, while others haven’t even represented the club yet.
One of those stars is 20-year-old Andrey Santos.
The Brazilian joined Chelsea from Rio-based side Vasco da Gama in 2023 but is yet to make his senior debut.
He spent an underwhelming loan spell with Nottingham Forest last season – where he made just two appearances – but is currently enjoying a sensational breakthrough with Strasbourg in France.
There, he is joined by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, also on loan, who has made 31 outings for the Blues.
And the two players have become fan-favourites at the club.
Santos is a generation-defining midfield talent that Chelsea have got waiting in the wings in Ligue 1, ready to be unleashed on the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign.
Having watched his side thoroughly this season, I was so impressed by his talent and the development of Petrovic that I flew to Strasbourg to scout them in the flesh vs OGC Nice – this is what I found from each…
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ANDREY SANTOS – MIDFIELDER – 20 Y/O
MY VIEW
A Swiss army knife of a midfielder, Santos is made of steel and was forged in the fire of box-to-box icon Patrick Vieira when he worked under him in the second half of last season.
When I arrived at the Stade de Meinau, I had doubts that he could really be as good as the online discourse about him, but he was better.
The young Brazilian was presented the fans’ Player of The Month award to rapturous applause ahead of kick-off vs Nice, and has previously captained the team this season as a 20-year-old loanee.
With his collar up, he plays with the swagger of Eric Cantona, having the technical ability to match, hardly ever misplacing a pass and being dependable in his own box as well as the oppositions.
He provided two assists, for Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Emmanuel Emegha, taking home the Man of the Match award in what would’ve been a perfect evening had Nice not equalised at the death.
THE STATS VIEW
In 27 league games this season, Andrey Santos has racked up NINE goals and four assists, playing as a box-to-box midfielder.
That is the same goal tally as Nicolas Jackson, with one less assist than Enzo Fernandez in the Premier League.
He averages a 7.78 match rating according to Futmob, and his nine goals have come from an Expected Goal count (xG) of 4.37, a stat in which Chelsea players have made a habit of underperforming.
Among midfielders aged under 21 in Europe’s top five leagues he ranks FIRST for: goals, possession won, interceptions, duels won, forward passes, and fouls suffered. (Stats @DataMB)
THE FANS VIEW
Strasbourg fans are very aware that he has the potential to be up there with their greatest ever players, and if they make it to the UCL this season, he will go down a club cult hero.
The overarching view is that it’s a real shame he is BlueCo owned, that they will miss him more than anything when he returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
GettySantos has managed nine goals and four assists this season[/caption]
Andrey Santos is the next one, the next generational player that we will remember for years, and in a couple of years we will all be proud when he’s holding the World Cup in Brazil, that this guy played here at the Meinau”
Lionel
VERDICT
Santos must be a part of Chelsea’s plans next season, most likely fitting in where the injured Romeo Lavia would have liked to have been this season, or be used as an option to occasionally rest Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez.
He will give Maresca a huge selection headache however, as if he moves Caicedo to an inverted RB position as we saw earlier this season, then you have to drop club captain Reece James.
Will at the very least be incredible squad depth.
DJORDJE PETROVIC – GOALKEEPER – 25 Y/O
MY VIEW
Much has been made of Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation this season, and rightly so.
Robert Sanchez is perfectly portrayed by the stats that make the man, with the best save % in the Premier League at 74.5%, but also the most errors leading to goals (5)…
Djordje Petrovic was shipped on loan to Strasbourg to develop his ability on the ball, with his shot-stopping ability rarely questioned in the season he spent as number one at Stamford Bridge.
His development in that area has been undeniable, often playing those direct ‘hospital’ passes with great accuracy into the deepest lying midfielder, in this case Andrey Santos, who can turn on a sixpence and spring an attack for his side in transition.
The only question mark I was left with from him in this game was his ability to deal with high balls, there were a few times in the game vs Nice that he was almost caught out at the back post and let off somewhat by his opponents poor finishing.
AFPPetrovic has zero errors leading to goals in Ligue 1[/caption]
THE STATS VIEW
The stats tell us that Petrovic has been one of, if not the best goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
He ranks first among his competitors for passes completed and short passes completed, while ranking second for goals prevented. (@DataMB)
In Ligue 1 he has ZERO errors leading to goals, compared to Robert Sanchez who has the highest in the Premier League with FIVE.
(@DataMB) Djordje Petrovic stands clear of most in Europe for passes completed per 90 and prevented goals this season[/caption]
THE FANS VIEW
Strasbourg fans know a thing or two about very good goalkeepers.
The contrast between Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge earlier this season was stark, and the Belgian is who the RCSA faithful watched in between the sticks for six seasons.
When asked about Djordje Petrovic, this is what I was told by lifelong Strasbourg fan Alex:
“Petrovic is Petr Cech reincarnated. In the modern game his ability on the ball has been criticised, but if you’re protecting a one-goal lead there are maybe five goalkeepers in the world I would rather have. It’s astounding that Maresca saw his skill and selected Sanchez”
Alex
VERDICT
Has earned the chance to be Chelsea’s No1 next season once more.
Has clearly developed into a very strong goalkeeper on the line, while becoming much better with the ball at his feet, something Enzo Maresca clearly adores.
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