Chelsea turn down bid for midfield star Andrey Santos

Chelsea have reportedly turned down an official bid from West Ham United for their midfield star Andrey Santos.

West Ham, aiming to overhaul their squad this summer transfer window, have set their sights on Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder, submitting an official £45.7 million (€53m) bid, according to Diario AS reporter Eduardo Burgos.

Meanwhile, fellow London club Arsenal lodged an official approach during the early weeks of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The 21-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge in June after a productive 18-month loan at Strasbourg and is poised to play a pivotal role under Enzo Maresca in the 2025/26 season.

Chelsea sees Santos as a vital asset for both the present and future, promptly rejecting West Ham’s proposal with no intention of letting him leave before Transfer Deadline Day.

The Brazil international made his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, notably missing a clear-cut chance in the final moments, and is set to challenge Enzo Fernandez for a starting spot alongside Moises Caicedo this season.

Santos featured in 45 appearances during his loan at Strasbourg, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists, with his impressive form in France prompting teammate Diego Moreira to hail him as “the best player in the world” back in March.

Despite attracting interest from numerous elite European clubs after his stint at Strasbourg, Santos was always slated to return to Chelsea, where the Blues are resolute in retaining him, confident that he will play a key role at Stamford Bridge in the coming years.

Santos’ current contract with the Club World Cup winners is due to expire in 2030, meaning Chelsea are under no pressure to offload him.

Chelsea are currently in advanced negotiations to offload several unwanted stars before the summer transfer window closes, with Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, and Nicolas Jackson among those expected to leave.