After signing Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United this summer, Chelsea have set their sights on landing another star from Old Trafford in 2026.
The Blues have been undergoing a significant squad overhaul under Enzo Maresca's leadership and look set to splurge even more money as part of their plan.
Despite already having a stacked midfield, Chelsea are looking to land another midfielder from Old Trafford.
The West London side have previously been linked with a move for Man United’s academy product, Kobbie Mainoo and by the looks of it, their interest in the midfielder shows no signs of waning.
The 20-year-old central midfielder has fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim’s watch, and Chelsea are all set to try and take advantage of the situation.
Given his current situation at United, Chelsea may seem like an attractive option for Mainoo.
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Chelsea plan summer swoop for Kobbie Mainoo
According to TeamTalk, while a move in January is increasingly viewed as unlikely, Chelsea are believed to be positioning themselves for an approach next summer.
At present, Maresca leads a crowded and talented midfield group. The Blues currently use a robust core that includes Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, and Dario Essugo.
These options provide depth, creativity and defensive balance. Given all that, one might assume the club would deprioritise any further additions in the engine room.
The club’s appetite to sign Mainoo in January is thought to be constrained by pragmatic factors such as squad balance, financial considerations and the difficulty of prising him away midseason.
That’s why it is believed that a formal bid is more likely next summer, when contract issues or changes in United’s priorities might open the door.
While Chelsea have their heart set on the player, they might face competition from Italian side Napoli.
They are still in contact with United over a move in January for the England international midfielder.
Chelsea news and related links
- Former Chelsea star makes shocking claim about Cole Palmer's Ballon d’Or chances
- Jamie Carragher’s blistering verdict leaves Chelsea fans with questions
- Enzo Maresca delivers his verdict on Alejandro Garnacho's performance against Lincoln City