CHELSEA fans are calling for forgotten man Andrey Santos to be recalled from his loan at Strasbourg.
The defensive midfielder has put in a number of eye-catching displays in Ligue 1 this season.
Santos joined the Blues in January 2023 for £11million after starring for Brazil at the U20 World Cup.
The 20-year-old was shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest, before landing at Chelsea’s partner club Strasbourg in the summer.
He has since been made skipper at the Stade de la Meinau and is enjoying a superb season.
Football data gurus SofaScore indicate Santos has not been rated lower than a 7/10 in any Ligue 1 game this term.
He has netted seven goals from midfield, dominating teams with his tenacious tackling and passing range.
Some Chelsea fans are now demanding the club recall Santos early from his loan and slot him into the team alongside Moises Caicedo.
One fan on X begged: “Bring back Andrey Santos and sign any short term box crashing striker and we go on the nuttiest 11 game win streak. ASAP. Do it now.”
Another said: “Andrey Santos is top of Ligue 1 for ball recoveries (90). Bring him back.”
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While a third simply demanded: “Bring Andrey Santos back asap.”
And a fourth added: “Easily the best CDM in the league and top 5 in Europe this season.”
Chelsea have stumbled over the festive period after going on a terrific run through November and early December.
They are winless in four games, stuttering to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With the January window now open, reports suggest the club are ready to move on from another wonderkid.
Cesare Casadei was signed in 2022 from Inter Milan in a deal worth £12.6m after he was touted for big things.
CHELSEA made it back-to-back losses as they slumped to an awful 2-0 defeat at Ipswich.
Enzo Maresca’s side went into the match hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 home loss to Fulham on Boxing Day.
But instead saw their title hopes take another massive dent after goals from Liam Delap and old-boy Omari Hutchinson.
On a night to forget for the Blues, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates and slates each performer...
FILIP JORGENSEN – 6
His first bit of action was a clumsy trailing leg to catch Delap and give away a needless penalty.
Followed it up with a few decent stops to deny the forward anything else, but the damage was already done.
AXEL DISASI – 4
Offered very little until a fine pass early in the second half to put Madueke through.
But that was then overshadowed by a woeful piece of defending to give the hosts a second goal, first with a stray pass to Delap and then giving Hutchinson the freedom of Ipswich to slot home.
TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 5
Struggled to deal with Delap, physically and for pace. Looked terrified to press him. Lumbered about for most of the game.
LEVI COLWILL – 6
Looks so much better with a proper defensive partner, unlike here.
Not his best game, but not his worst.
MARC CUCURELLA – 5
Nervy clearance off Hutchinson almost gave Delap a second inside 15 minutes and caught out of position plenty when Ipswich countered.
Poor in attacking areas.
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 6
A real mixed bag.
Picked up some good pockets of space but out-muscled on occasion.
MOISES CAICEDO – 6
Blazed over a glorious chance from the edge of the box off his left peg.
Controlled the game well from deep at times.
NONI MADUEKE – 7
Involved in everything good with Chelsea, taking on defenders and unlucky not to grab a first half goal.
Linked up well with Palmer and Enzo.
COLE PALMER – 8
A joy to watch. His cleverly-disguised free-kick smacked the post and his cross for Joao Felix at the far post to score from was delightful, only to be called back for offside.
He was then denied a curling beauty by a worldie save. Did not deserve to be on the losing side. Best player on the pitch by a mile.
JOAO FELIX – 6
Perhaps a harsh one but should have stayed onside before tapping in Palmer’s brilliant cross to level the scores.
Had a header cleared off the line just after the break.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 5
An anonymous first half was followed up by more anonymity in the second before being hauled off just after the hour mark.
Feels like he has wasted a huge chance given to him by Maresca to prove he can be the difference maker.
SUBS
NICOLAS JACKSON (for Felix, 55) – 6
Missed a blatant one v one, spared blushes by a delayed offside flag.
JADON SANCHO – (for Nkunku, 65) – 6
Did very little, but the game was pretty much done by the time he came on.
MALO GUSTO (for Disasi, 77) – 6
Came on just so Disasi could make way, it seems. Made his presence known by getting into a late scrap with Davis.
PEDRO NETO (for Madueke, 77) – 5
Brought some zip, but let himself down by going down soft holding his face from a Kalvin Phillips ‘challenge’.
He spent time on loan at Reading and Leicester before being recalled to the Blues squad in January 2024.
Boss Enzo Maresca decided to keep Casadei after taking over in the summer, but Casadei has struggled for gametime this season.
Casadei has reportedly agreed to join Torino back home in Italy.
A deal between the two clubs is now being thrashed out – believed to be in the region of £10m.
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