Despite Vasco da Gama’s attempt to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea, it seems it’s still Palmeiras who are most likely to win that race.
The latest updates on that competition are brought by journalist Jorge Nicola, who claims the Blues continue to have a preference for the player’s destination.
As previously reported by the Brazilian media this week, Vasco stepped in because the contract said they needed to be notified by Chelsea about a loan elsewhere, and they were.
But according to Nicola, the Blues want him to go to Palmeiras.
The main reason is that their participation in Copa Libertadores would basically guarantee that Andrey gets a work permit for the Premier League, and with Vasco out of the competition, there’s no such certainty.
The report claims Chelsea’s deal with Palmeiras should then be announced ‘very soon’.
Andrey is set to move on a loan until the end of the year, with the possibility of having his spell cut short in the summer in case he gets the visa by then.
The clubs’ big discussion is regarding his participation in the U20 World Cup in May and June.
The Blues want him to be there, but the Brazilian side don’t, since that would mean he’d play for them for even less time, especially in case he’s gone in the summer.
