Heading into the January switch window, the principle place that appears to be of focus for Enzo Maresca’s facet is in central defence, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile at the moment out with severe accidents and Axel Disasi being linked with a transfer away.
Nevertheless, central defence is not the one place Chelsea are struggling for canopy, as Roméo Lavia has struggled for the second consecutive season to remain match.
Solely managing one look within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, Lavia is having a greater season this time period, making 12 appearances, offering one help and totalling 588 minutes performed.
This has seen Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo closely relied upon in midfield, with different choices similar to Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor and Renato Veiga not being trusted to play these roles within the Premier League underneath Maresca.
However with the switch window open, Chelsea might recall one in every of their gamers out on mortgage, very like they’ve already carried out to offer centre-back depth with Trevoh Chalobah, in an effort to present competitors and depth in midfield.
That is slightly than signing Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United…
Chelsea’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo
Chelsea have been linked with a transfer for Mainoo in latest weeks, together with his Man United contract talks hitting a “stalemate”.
The 19-year-old midfielder has made 18 appearances for United this season to date, but to offer a aim or help, totalling 1,297 minutes performed.
That mentioned, he might go away the Crimson Devils behind and it is the Stamford Bridge outfit who’re ‘main the race’ for the England worldwide’s signature.
However, given the type of Caicedo and Fernandez, do they really want him? Arguably not, notably when they could have already got their very own Mainoo within the ranks too.
Chelsea’s very personal Kobbie Mainoo
Andrey Santos is at the moment spending the 2024/25 marketing campaign on mortgage with Chelsea’s “feeder” group Strasbourg in Ligue 1, making 17 appearances to date this season, scoring seven objectives and, offering one help. It is protected to say he is been slightly spectacular.
The 20-year-old Brazilian was signed again within the 2023 summer time switch window, becoming a member of for a price of round £13m from Vasco da Gama in Brazil. Since then, he has but to play a single senior group recreation for the Blues.
Like Mainoo, Santos is seen as a box-to-box midfielder, having the standard to drop deep, hyperlink play and progress by means of the traces within the build-up, while additionally having the standard to reach within the penalty space, scoring objectives and offering output for his facet.
Contemplating the price it will price to convey Mainoo to the membership, Chelsea might as a substitute look to convey Santos again from mortgage. He’s at the moment outperforming the Englishman this season and has been aptly labelled as a “one-man conflict machine” previously by scout Jacek Kulig.
|
Santos vs Mainoo comparability (2024/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Santos |
Mainoo |
|
Objectives |
0.42 |
0.00 |
|
Assists |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
xG |
0.21 |
0.04 |
|
Progressive Carries |
1.08 |
1.38 |
|
Progressive Passes |
4.97 |
3.90 |
|
Passes Tried |
50.1 |
48.7 |
|
Go Completion % |
87.5% |
86.6% |
|
Key Passes |
0.89 |
1.06 |
|
Tackles + Interceptions |
4.88 |
4.08 |
|
Recoveries |
6.62 |
5.04 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
When analysing the metrics of Santos, you’ll be able to clearly see his capacity to have an effect on all facets of play, having the progressive qualities wanted in midfield, the creativity to play by means of the traces, the nostril for a aim when arriving within the field, and having the defensive duel capacity to guard his group’s defensive position.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s aim at the least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
While Mainoo exhibits sensible ranges of press resistance, typically carrying the ball seamlessly by means of the midfield in tight areas, Santos has the potential to do that, while additionally providing extra out-of-possession, making ball recoveries extra steadily, and even exhibiting management traits on the pitch.
Recalling Santos would offer Chelsea with glorious midfield depth. Nevertheless, if Lavia does handle to remain match for the remainder of the season, the younger Brazilian could wrestle for constant minutes, making it a troublesome determination to recall him from a really profitable mortgage with Strasbourg to date.
Associated
Their subsequent Lampard: Chelsea planning huge bid to signal “world-class” ace
Chelsea may very well be right down to clinch a shocking switch in 2025.
