Chelsea are in talks with Palmeiras about a loan move for Andrey Santos.
The January signing from Vasco da Gama has been denied a UK work permit.
Instead, temporary return to Brazil has been chosen as the solution with the player choosing Palmeiras due to their record of developing young players.
However, the London Evening Standard report that there remains a final hurdle regarding the length of the loan with the Blues preferring to see him return for next season and Palmeiras insisting to have him until December.
Santos missed out on a work permit by just one point, because of the other midfielders that the Blues have brought, including additions snapped up later in the January transfer window.