Estevao has been backed to quit Chelsea during the January transfer window.

The 19-year-old joined the Blues from Palmeiras in 2025 and made an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, he made 43 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring eight times and adding four assists.

But Estevao's game time has been reduced since Xabi Alonso was appointed in the summer. He is yet to start a single Premier League match and has played just 154 minutes in both the top-flight and Carabao Cup.

Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer have both been preferred as the two attacking midfielders in Alonso's 3-4-2-1 system, while Pedro Neto has often been used as the advanced right-wing-back, with Estevao left out in the cold.

Due to his difficult start to the season, ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes Estevao could now make the decision to leave west London in search of more game time.

Nevin told Goal: "I wouldn't be surprised. Now it's not exactly 'you should leave, go now'. But your career only lasts a certain amount of time and you need a lot of games under your belt. And by the time you're 20, 21, you kind of want a couple of hundred.

"If you're really top level, that's who you are. You're not getting bits of games here and there, you are an established player. And the real great players tend to have that. Started very early, which he did, have great talent, which he has, and then play a lot of games and understand the importance of life within a game. And it's a bit of a shame because it's not happening.

"So I wouldn't be shocked if he looks elsewhere to get a game. On the other hand, if you're Chelsea, you think, 'what happens if Rogers or Palmer get injured? We need somebody.' And it's the classic difficult situation that players in the modern game find themselves in. But a player of that talent, don't waste it on benches all your life. I get a feeling he won't."

Alonso was asked about Estevao's limited game time before his side's win against Bournemouth earlier this month. Despite using him for just 27 minutes in the Premier League, the Spaniard reiterated his importance to his squad.

"It's still early, just a few games since we started and Este, he's feeling much better from the [hamstring] injury," said Alonso, when asked about Estevao's lack of minutes this season. "We have seen in Brazil that he has played more, the context is different, what he has played with the national team to the Premier League.

"But we know the demand of the Premier League and we know Este, how important he can be in some games and he will have his moments and more minutes."

Next up for Chelsea is a difficult-looking trip to Everton on Saturday lunchtime. Estevao is expected to have a place on the bench with Rogers and Palmer once again preferred.