Chelsea will be pleased with how the Alejandro Garnacho acquisition has panned out, and are considering another Man United swoop for January.
Of all the business Chelsea did over the summer, the deal for Garnacho dragged out the longest.
The out-of-favour 21-year-old was always going to leave, but Chelsea were in no rush to get it done.
They ended up agreeing to a quite reasonable £40 million fee, considering the ceiling of Garnacho and his vast experience in the Premier League for his age.
Now, another star discarded by Ruben Amorim is in Chelsea’s sights.
Kobbie Mainoo looks on ahead of Fulham v Manchester United - Premier League
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Mark Ogden says Kobbie Mainoo to Chelsea is possible in January
Kobbie Mainoo is in a similar boat to Garnacho before his switch to Stamford Bridge.
The English midfielder is a staggering talent, but Amorim hasn’t found a place for him in the current system.
Chelsea fans wanted to sign Mainoo before deadline day in August, but the move never materialised.
That said, Mainoo is open to a Chelsea move, and ESPN writer Mark Ogden has provided an update on the state of play.
He says: “So listen, Kobbie Mainoo in an Arsenal shirt is unlikely, but I do think he’s a player that would interest big clubs. Whether he’d be interested in going to a club where he might not play as regularly as he wants is another question.
“I think another option for Kobbie Mainoo could be Chelsea. We know that Chelsea like players who are young with potential, and he’s only 20 years old. I think people forget that Kobbie Mainoo is just a kid.”
Chelsea have a strong roster of midfielders, but would not turn down a player who just two seasons ago was being touted as the future of England’s midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer celebrating for England
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Chelsea might look to offload a midfielder
The Blues are not afraid to stack positions with talent. Just look at all of the forward positions.
Mainoo is only going to join Chelsea with a promise of minutes. That’s why he’s considering leaving his boyhood club. But where exactly do the minutes come from?
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are the two big names in Maresca’s engine room. Reece James is also bossing the midfield when asked to.
Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos are the depth options, so adding Mainoo feels like running the risk of overstaffing.
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As much as it would be a shame, you’d have to imagine Lavia is bottom of the pecking order and most likely to be discarded simply due to his injury history — but that history might be why Chelsea struggle to attract offers.
The Blues have operated in a fairly clear manner in the market, though. Sign the talent now. Strike while the iron’s hot. Worry about the logistics later.