Andrey Santos is set to return to Chelsea this week after a disappointing loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea rate the 19-year-old midfielder highly, but he has played just 97 minutes of first-team football since moving to the City Ground in the summer.

The sacking of Steve Cooper has not influenced the situation, despite Portuguese speaker Nuno Espirito Santo coming in as his replacement.

Forest are also happy to follow Chelsea’s wishes to help continue building a positive relationship between the two clubs.

Santos will now carefully consider his next steps and can only move on loan to another team in England, as FIFA limit clubs to just seven overseas loanees, with Chelsea's spots already filled.

Crystal Palace and a host of Championship clubs are interested in the one-time Brazil international, but the Blues are not in a rush to jump into another loan move.

They will carefully consider what is best for the youngster’s development to avoid another wasted six months.

Santos is likely to train under Mauricio Pochettino at Cobham in the interim period and he could stay at Chelsea until the end of the season.

If Santos features for Chelsea in January, it would end his chances of moving on loan again this month as players are only allowed to play for two clubs per season.

Academy midfielder Alex Matos is available on loan this January and has spoken to multiple clubs.

The 19-year-old is also highly regarded at Chelsea, having made his senior debut this season after joining from Norwich in the summer.