Chelsea have been tipped to 'easily' sign a 'top player' who could become a 'superstar' away from his current club.
Chelsea suffer Atalanta blow as Maresca crashes down to Earth
Chelsea's aspirations of securing automatic Champions League knockout round qualification took a significant hit as they surrendered a half-time advantage to lose 2-1 against Atalanta in Bergamo on Tuesday evening.
Enzo-Maresca-Leeds-Chelsea
Enzo Maresca's side appeared on course for a crucial victory when Joao Pedro slid home his maiden Champions League goal in the 25th minute, capitalizing on Reece James's delivery after a VAR review confirmed the captain had timed his run perfectly.
The Blues controlled proceedings during the opening period, with their man-to-man pressing disrupting Atalanta's rhythm and limiting the Serie A outfit's opportunities.
However, Josh Acheampong did have to produce a stunning goal-line block to deny Ademola Lookman what appeared a certain opener.
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Maresca's decision to withdraw the booked Trevoh Chalobah at half-time appeared to kickstart a dramatic shift in momentum.
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The Blues are short up front.
James spurned an excellent opportunity to extend Chelsea's lead early in the second period, firing wide from a promising position on the edge of the penalty area.
Atalanta immediately made Chelsea pay, with Charles De Ketelaere delivering an exceptional cross from the right flank, allowing former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca to rise completely unmarked inside the six-yard box and nod past Robert Sanchez.
The Belgian forward then completed the turnaround with seven minutes remaining, his deflected strike looping over Sanchez after taking a wicked deflection off Marc Cucurella's retreating leg.
Despite late opportunities for Alejandro Garnacho, James and Pedro, Marco Carnesecchi's goalkeeping ensured Atalanta claimed all three points.
It was a humbling night for Chelsea, merely a fortnight after they were being talked about as genuine Premier League title contenders.
There is clearly still work to do before the west Londoners can be discussed in that manner, with Maresca lamenting Chelsea's defending in a post-match press conference.
"I think after the goal we conceded, we lost a little bit of control of the game," Maresca said.
"In the first half, we scored the goal, we conceded something, but also we created some chances. In the second half, I think we had two good chances to score the second one. And then again, after we conceded the 1-1 [goal], we lost a little bit of control of the game, and then we conceded the second one. I think both goals, we can avoid both of them, they're quite easy goals."
With holes still ever present and Maresca constantly rotating his first-team due to injuries, there may still be more work to do in the transfer market next year.
Chelsea spent nearly £300 million in the summer, but they remain pretty light in midfield with the constantly-injured Roméo Lavia sidelined for yet another extended period.
As a result, the west Londoners have been tipped to move for a new midfielder in 2026, and Man United's Kobbie Mainoo could be available.
Chelsea tipped to 'easily' sign Kobbie Mainoo from Man United
Chelsea have been repeatedly linked with the Red Devils sensation these last 12 months, with Mainoo on the fringes of Ruben Amorim's first team and potentially poised for the exit door.
Man United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, ex-United midfielder Nicky Butt has tipped Chelsea to sign Mainoo amid his current club's 'mind-boggling' stance when it comes to young stars.
"If Mainoo was playing for another Premier League club, United go and buy him for £70m or £80m," Butt said.
"Now we’re going to sell him and he’ll be a superstar elsewhere like McTominay, Elanga, Henderson – we can mention loads of them.
"We’re getting rid of players who love the football club, it’s mind-boggling. I get the Garnacho one because his attitude and behaviour was terrible, but you don’t hear that about Kobbie.
"He’s a top, top, top player. Kobbie has got to go. If I’m looking after him, I’m telling him “we’re getting you out of that football club.
"For his football career he has to leave United, he’s lost 18 months of development. I hope he goes abroad because it’s embarrassing if he goes to Chelsea, which could happen.
"They might go and get him because they are putting together a very good, young squad and keep buying young players. He could quite easily end up at Chelsea next season."
The 20-year-old, who burst on to the scene at Old Trafford in 2023/2024, was once a revelation under Erik ten Hag and one of England's rising stars.
Mainoo's excellent form that year, including an FA Cup final goal against Man City, earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
He played in all but one of the Three Lions' games that tournament, including a start in the final against Spain, so finding Mainoo in this situation at United is truly bizarre.
The talented and versatile midfielder seemingly doesn't fit into Amorim's tactical blueprint, with Chelsea believed to still be keen on Mainoo amid their search for world football's most elite young talents.
This could be a match made in heaven.