The Brazilian is keen to return to his homeland (Picture: Getty Images)

Chelsea’s hierarchy are open to letting Thiago Silva leave this summer if he informs the club that he wants to make a return to boyhood club Fluminense, according to reports.

Although the veteran centre-back only signed a one-year contract extension in February, he has now been linked with an emotional return to Rio de Janeiro.

Fluminense’s president, Mario Bittencourt, as well as former striker Fred have been leading a charm offensive to try and convince Silva to return.

The Brazilian club also recently signed ex-Real Madrid superstar Marcelo, who has been privately urging his old international team-mate to join him at Fluminense for one last campaign together.

Silva is believed to be increasingly drawn to the prospect of departing Stamford Bridge this summer to re-join the club that rescued his career – and it appears Chelsea will not stand in his way.

According to The Telegraph, the west London club would be willing to grant Silva his wish as a good-will gesture and a mark of the excellent service he has given Chelsea since joining.

The 38-year-old has been a model professional during very testing times at the club since joining from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2020.

Silva wants to end his career back at Fluminense (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are also conscious of the fact they need to offload a number of players this summer to cull their bloated squad.

Silva is not on the long list of players they are actively seeking to offload, but his departure would open up a spot in the squad – one which could be filled by Levi Colwill when he returns from his season-long loan at Brighton.

Brazilian reports claim Silva will hold talks with technical director Christopher Vivell at the end of the season and any decision is unlikely to be affected by Mauricio Pochettino’s looming arrival.

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The Argentine will be given the chance to give his opinion on every player in the squad but he is not expected to want to hang on to Silva if his desire is to return to Fluminense.

Silva came through the club’s academy but left before making a senior appearance, returning in 2006, initially on loan from Dynamo Moscow, after contracting tuberculosis. AC Milan came calling in 2009 and the rest was history.

Speaking to The Telegraph last year, Silva said: ‘Fluminense is the club I would like to finish at. It was the club where I played after I had my illness and it’s the club who opened the door for me after that stage and believed in me when nobody thought Thiago Silva would still make it as a player. As incredible as it may seem, it’s the club that I support as well.’

MORE : Thiago Silva to ask Chelsea to end contract early so he can return to Brazil

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The Brazilian is keen to return to his homeland.