Chelsea lead race to sign Kobbie Mainoo from Man United

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, according to the Daily Mail, with the youngster considering his future at the club.

The England international still has two and a half years left on his current deal and was negotiating to extend his stay at his boyhood club by a year, but those talks have hit an impasse amid reports he could be sold for pure profit. This uncertainty has alerted Chelsea, who are believed to be closely monitoring the situation.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past year, establishing himself as a key player under Erik ten Hag, earning a place in the England squad for the 2024 European Championships. His impressive performances have seen him shortlisted for the prestigious Golden Boy award.

However, despite his rapid progress, Mainoo has yet to nail a permanent starting spot under new manager Ruben Amorim, looking increasingly uncomfortable in the Portuguese tactician’s 3-4-2-1 formation. His injury earlier in the season has played a role in his struggles.

The Blues, known for their youth development and willingness to invest in promising youngsters, are seen as a potential destination for the midfielder should he become available.

However, it remains to be seen where exactly Mainoo will fit into the Chelsea project. The west Londoners typically line up with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the engine room, and while the Man United man can slot in there, the pair are enjoying an excellent season.

Behind them, Chelsea have the superb Romeo Lavia. The Blues still have Andrey Santos impressing at Strasbourg in France, recording unbelievable numbers in Ligue 1 and earmarking himself for a slot in the Chelsea first-team. Meanwhile, Lesley Ugochukwu continues to show his bags of potential at Southampton.

It is hard to envisage Chelsea moving for Mainoo. Besides not having space in their squad for him, Man United will not be so keen to let such a talented player go to a rival club. This might be a ploy to get United moving quickly to secure that new contract.