Chelsea will send January transfer window signing Andrey Santos out on loan if he cannot get his work permit to play for them, according to Globo.
The Blues paid around £16 million to sign the highly-touted prospect from Vasco da Gama, but he does not meet the criteria for a work permit.
Chelsea hoped to use the South American Youth Football Championship, where Santos is currently captaining Brazil, to secure his permit.
They have applied for an exceptional talent visa to allow Santos to play in the Premier League but will send him out on loan if he cannot get it.
The Premier League club anticipated this impasse, and as part of their agreement with Vasco, the player could return to them on loan.
However, Santos may decide he wants another destination after his time with Vasco. Clubs competing in the Copa Libertadores may want to take him.
Santos has been tearing it up at the South America under-20 Championship. He is one of the early contenders for the player of the tournament award.
The wonderkid already has five goals in the tournament. He is third on the top scorer list and will lead his side against Uruguay in the final round.
Despite the goals, it is his all-around play that has earned him rave reviews. He is a midfield general possessing a bit of everything in his box-to-box skillset.
Chelsea signed Santos after an incredible season in the Brasileiro Serie B, where he started 33 games. That is quite the feat for a youngster.
He netted eight goals and created four big chances for his side. He won 6.8 ground duels per game in the second division, winning 63%. Despite his small and stocky frame, he won 52% of his aerial duels.
Chelsea could use a talented midfielder like Santos to partner record signing Enzo Fernandez, especially with N’Golo Kante, Denis Zakaria and Mateo Kovacic being injury-prone.
The Blues will wait anxiously to see whether they can bring him in for the second half of the season or send him back to Brazil on loan.
