Chelsea set to deliver transfer blow to Newcastle United in bid for ‘new Bruno Guimaraes’

Newcastle United are set to miss out on one of their reported transfer targets after Brazilian youngster Andrey Santos moved a step closer to joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Reports in France have suggested the Blues are the latest club to consider a move for the youngster and are said to be ‘close’ to agreeing a deal to take the midfielder to Stamford Bridge. le10sport.com have suggested Newcastle, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are all ‘involved in a hot battle’ to land the 18-year-old - but will be left disappointed after Chelsea moved ahead of their rivals in the race to land Santos.

The piece states ‘nothing is officially signed yet’ but reveals the Blues have been ‘fastest in their efforts’ to make a firm move for the Brazil Under-20 international. A deal is expected to be conclueded during the January transfer window after the player and his representatives were left impressed by Chelsea’s ‘project’.

Speaking earlier this month, Santos discussed a possible move away from Vasco da Gama, telling Brazilian outlet Globe: “(I am) happy for everything that is happening, the result of a lot of work, everything happening naturally. My parents and my manager filter me, I know that everything will go at the right time for my dreams to come true. But there’s nothing for now. It will be a year of a lot of delivery, let’s fight at the top, do everything to get winners and let it be a brilliant season. I hope to continue helping.”

Newcastle’s disappointment at missing out on Santos could be tempered after they were said to have made progress in their bid for Argentina Under-20 midfielder Maximo Perrone. Velez Sarsfield director and former Magpies midfielder Christian Bassedas is said to have travelled to travelled to England to work on completing the deal.