Andrey Santos once again excelled for Chelsea in their latest pre-season encounter against Fulham with the Brazilian midfielder completing another 45 minutes in America

Mauricio Pochettino has an alternative to Moises Caicedo

Chelsea now have just one pre-season remaining before they kick off their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 13.

The Blues got their hands on the inaugural Premier League Summer Series trophy on Sunday evening with a 2-0 win against Fulham, thanks to goals from Thiago Silva and Christopher Nkunku in the first-half. It was Chelsea’s fourth pre-season game in the United States and their third victory.

A different sort of challenge in Borussia Dortmund awaits Mauricio Pochettino and his squad on Thursday morning – in what is the final match of their pre-season tour. After that, the real stuff kicks off, with Liverpool presenting a stern test to the Blues on the first weekend of the Premier League season.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, time is running out to get Moises Caicedo in from Brighton before the beginning of the 2023/24 season. The club remain in talks with the Seagulls and have thus far seen three offers turned down for the Ecuador central midfielder. There is still hope a deal can be struck before the end of the summer transfer window but it does look like one that is set to drag on and take its time.

Brighton are adamant they won’t drop below their £100million asking price for Caicedo, while Chelsea are trying to drive down that fee. The 21-year-old wants to move to Stamford Bridge and has already verbally agreed on personal terms with the west London club.

Going into pre-season, many Chelsea supporters were left concerned with their situation in the centre of midfield. With N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all departing Stamford Bridge, it has left Pochettino short of options in the middle of the park. And while there remains some slight concern, the performances of one man in particular over the last few warm-up matches have filled the fans with plenty of optimism.

Andrey Santos. The 19-year-old midfielder has been used in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout pre-season thus far and has flourished in the role. It is a position that requires tremendous discipline and maturity – something Santos has shown despite still being a teenager.

“Ok I am not the only one who thinks he looks way too mature for his age,” One user said on Reddit. “18-years-old, playing for PL club as a DM is one of the hardest positions to play. Very impressive with him. And I think how he passes and moves looks very similar to Caicedo.”

Another added: “He’s only 18? This dude has so much potential.” While another said: “Of who we have in the squad currently, he’s my first week starter with Enzo.”

Finally, another user continued: “It is a night and day difference in our midfield control and ability to play out from the back when he is off. I know we changed everyone in the midfield but it was pretty obvious out of all of our midfielders he is the best at playing the position. I understand why we want Caicedo and I wouldn’t be upset if we got him but I would be perfectly fine with Santos starting next to Enzo.”

Pochettino has experimented a lot in midfield so far in pre-season. Cesare Casadei and Conor Gallagher have also both been used in the centre of the field, but their futures at the club remain uncertain.

Casadei could once again be loaned out as Chelsea look to continue his development. Meanwhile, Gallagher has plenty of interest from elsewhere in the Premier League and would be open to leaving Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis.

Chelsea are close to adding 19-year-old Rennes midfielder Lesley Ogochukwu to their ranks, football.london understands. Pochettino was asked after the Blues’ win against Fulham whether his squad need more experience or if bringing in a teenage midfielder is okay.

He replied: “I think you’re still talking about, we need experience in midfield. I have the information you have. My information is a player that is from France that maybe they sign with the idea to send on loan. The information was already in your laptop.”

It does look like then if and when Ogochukwu is brought in, the Frenchman will be loaned straight back out. But Pochettino has been very impressed with what he has seen from Santos – with his work in possession and out of it equally impressive in the United States.

Santos’ displays in America have been a welcome and timely bonus to Chelsea, who going into their pre-season campaign perhaps would have planned to loan him out for the upcoming season. But he has shown – in glimpses, anyway – that he has the ability and maturity to play alongside Enzo Fernandez when Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in less than two weeks’ time.

Soucre: football.london