Estevao Willian's long-term Chelsea future is uncertain with the forward struggling for game time since Xabi Alonso was appointed as the new Blues head coach in the summer

Estevao has been backed to leave 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.

Reports have suggested that Estevao could now force through a move and former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair believes that outcome could be in the best interest of all parties.

"As a young player, all you want to do is play football," Sinclair told Andy's Bet Club. "In my experience, having been on loan six times during my spell at Chelsea, you just want to be playing for your parent club. But when you aren't, you have to go out on loan to gain experience and game time.

"The longer you go without playing, the less match-fit you become, which makes it even harder to get into the side when an opportunity arises and that leads to doubt.

"Only Estevao can decide what is best for him, but because he is so young, getting consistent game time is essential and having been in the same position, I’d say he should go and play."

Meanwhile, Pat Nevin shared the same view as Sinclair and feels he should leave west London for more game time. The Scot 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."