Andrey Santos is reportedly keen to remain at Chelsea for the remainder of the season, rather than be loaned out elsewhere.
During the January transfer window, Santos was one of eight new additions made by the Blues, six of which immediately linked up with the club.
However, as well as Malo Gusto seeing out the remainder of the season on loan at Lyon, Santos has instead spent the past few weeks representing Brazil at the Under-20s South American Championship.
Not only did his nation win the tournament, midfielder Santos finished joint-top of the goalscoring charts alongside compatriot Vitor Roque.
With Graham Potter's first-team squad overflowing with talent at the present time, it has been suggested that Santos may be allowed to remain in his homeland until the summer.
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Furthermore, that appeared to be an option which made the most sense with the 18-year-old yet to fulfill certain criteria to secure a work permit.
Having failed with their first attempt, Chelsea are due to make a second bid, feeling that Santos's participation and performances in the recent international tournament should help his cause.
Regardless of the outcome, Globo Esporte say that Santos would like to remain in England for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.
The report suggests that Santos would prefer to go through an acclimatisation period rather than spend a short time on loan at a top-flight club in Brazil.
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In recent weeks, it has also been claimed that Chelsea would like to immediately include Santos in their first-team plans, even though the teenager has not been selected in the Champions League squad.
At one point in January, Santos was allegedly offered to Benfica as part of a proposal to sign Enzo Fernandez, but the Argentine eventually made the switch to the West Londoners in a straight-cash deal.
Should the former Vasca Da Gama prospect receive a work permit and stay at Chelsea, he currently has a wide array of talent in front of him in the pecking order.
When everyone is fit, Potter has eight other central midfielders at his disposal, usually vying for three roles in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Darren Plant
