Salernitana sporting director Morgan De Sanctis claims that Chelsea won’t be loaning out Andrey Santos this summer.

A host of teams, including the Serie A side, are interested in taking the Brazilian international on a temporary basis but De Sanctis says the Blues have made the decision to keep the player:

“We are interested in Santos, Chelsea have made an important investment and have decided that he will be part of the first team. It is unlikely at the moment that he can arrive.”

Santos did impress during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States but manager Mauricio Pochettino had spoken out to say that the teenager’s future would only be decided when the first-team squad returned to Cobham.

A number of clubs are after Santos

In addition to Salernitana, it is believed that there are at least six other teams interested in recruiting the 19-year-old this summer.

There have also been hints that another Premier League side are hoping to secure Santos’s services on a season-long loan.

However, if De Sanctis’s remarks are accurate, it appears that the Brazilian will be entrusted with first-team duties at Stamford Bridge this campaign.

Chelsea are short of numbers in midfield

Pochettino has expressed concern about his lack of options in the middle of the park. While there are six central midfielders currently in the squad, if you include Santos, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Lesley Ugochukwu, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka, a number of them may not be at the Blues come September 1st.

Gallagher could be sold, while there is a possibility that the likes of Ugochukwu, Casadei and Chukwuemeka will be loaned out. For that reason, it is not surprising that Pochettino wants to keep Santos around, even if a couple more midfielders arrive at the club before the transfer window closes.