Chelsea has had a longstanding interest in Mainoo, though it remains at the level of admiration for now.
On Tuesday, reports emerged that United is considering selling Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho to meet Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by offloading academy products. ..Continue Reading
Mainoo made a significant impact last season, quickly becoming one of the country’s top young talents. Despite facing criticism this season, he shone in United’s recent 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
The Stockport-born midfielder, at United since age seven, could bring energy and dynamism to Chelsea’s midfield if he signs.
Currently, Chelsea relies on Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia as their central midfielders, with manager Enzo Maresca rotating them in the Premier League.
Often, Chelsea’s full-backs, like Marc Cucurella or Malo Gusto, move into central midfield during possession to form a double pivot with Caicedo.
Meanwhile, Fernandez pushes forward to play as a No.10 alongside Cole Palmer, a role Mainoo might fill if Chelsea secures his signing.
Maresca, who has recently optimized Fernandez’s performance, has a clear vision for what he wants from players in this position.
Speaking in November, Maresca said: “I still trust Enzo. There is not any reason in the world I can lose confidence in him. The reason why he is not playing in the Premier League is because at this moment I take a different decision.
“In this moment, I know you are looking for some different reasons for Enzo [not starting], but it is very simple. He is not playing in this moment, we have so many games, he’s going to play, for sure, in the future. And it doesn’t mean Romeo [Lavia] and Moi [Caicedo] are always going to play.
“At the moment one of them drops [their levels], probably we will change it. It is a matter of balance. Romeo and Moi give us physicality and strength in the middle. This is why we found the option of Malo [Gusto] in the pocket.
“Otherwise, when we play with Enzo it has to be with one of Moi or Romeo, and Enzo moves forward we struggle in the middle for physicality. At the moment, that’s something Moi and Romeo give us, but it doesn’t mean for one game we can’t play with Joao [Felix] and Cole [Palmer] in the pocket. It depends on the game.”
A few months ago, Maresca detailed his expectations for Fernandez, and potentially for Mainoo in the future.
He said: “I think it is very difficult in the way we play to find a midfielder that can attack like an attacking midfielder and defend like a holding midfielder.
“For instance, Arsenal are using Declan Rice as an attacking midfielder on the ball and as a holding midfielder when defending. Man City, in the past, have done this with Ilkay Gundogan.
“In our case, we are trying to find the balance and find the players who can give us this kind of solution. At the moment, Enzo is the only one. When we have the ball, he is like an attacking midfielder, and is dropping next to Moi when we don’t have the ball to help us and give us defensive balance.”
