Bayern Munich set to step up interest in Chelsea midfielder enjoying impressive loan spell but face uphill battle with Enzo Maresca keen to keep young Brazil star

Per the Daily Mail, Bayern are interested in signing Santos from Chelsea this summer. The 20-year-old joined the club in 2023 from Vasco da Gama in a £17.5 million ($23m) deal, but he has yet to play a senior game for the Blues. Instead, he was loaned back to Vasco, then to Nottingham Forest for the 2023/24 season, and now to Strasbourg.

The youngster has already earned one Brazil cap and he has scored 10 goals in all competitions for the club this season from a central midfield position. Bayern are said to be maintaining a watching brief and are keen to do a deal this summer, although Chelsea are planning to play him in the Club World Championship and potentially make a decision on his future from there. AC Milan are also reported to hold an interest.

Santos may feel that he wasted the 23-24 campaign, as he played just twice for Forest throughout the entire season. It remains to be seen if he will believe that he can force his way into Enzo Maresca's starting XI at Stamford Bridge, or if he will seek pastures new.

Santos will next be in action when Strasbourg play St-Etienne next weekend. They are in the top five in Ligue 1 and are hoping to secure Champions League qualification.