Heading into the January switch window, the primary place that appears to be of focus for Enzo Maresca’s aspect is in central defence, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile presently out with critical accidents and Axel Disasi being linked with a move away.
Nonetheless, 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 appearance in the 2023/24 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 akin to Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor and Renato Veiga not being trusted to play these roles within the Premier League beneath Maresca.
However with the switch window open, Chelsea might recall certainly one of their gamers out on mortgage, very like they’ve already completed to offer centre-back depth with Trevoh Chalobah, in an effort to present competitors and depth in midfield.
That is fairly than signing Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United…
Chelsea’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo
Chelsea have been linked with a move 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 thus far, but to offer a objective or help, totalling 1,297 minutes performed.
That mentioned, he might go away the Purple 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 presently spending the 2024/25 marketing campaign on mortgage with Chelsea’s “feeder” crew Strasbourg in Ligue 1, making 17 appearances so far this season, scoring seven targets and, offering one help. It is protected to say he is been fairly spectacular.
The 20-year-old Brazilian was signed again within the 2023 summer season switch window, becoming a member of for a fee of around £13m from Vasco da Gama in Brazil. Since then, he has yet to play a single senior team game 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 way of the strains within the build-up, while additionally having the standard to reach within the penalty space, scoring targets and offering output for his aspect.
Contemplating the price it might price to deliver Mainoo to the membership, Chelsea might as an alternative look to deliver Santos again from mortgage. He’s presently outperforming the Englishman this season and has been aptly labelled as a “one-man war 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 |
|
Move 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 possibly can clearly see his capability to have an effect on all points of play, having the progressive qualities wanted in midfield, the creativity to play by way of the strains, the nostril for a objective when arriving within the field, and having the defensive duel capability to guard his crew’s defensive position.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s objective at the least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
While Mainoo reveals good ranges of press resistance, usually carrying the ball seamlessly by way of the midfield in tight areas, Santos has the potential to do that, while additionally providing extra out-of-possession, making ball recoveries extra continuously, and even displaying management traits on the pitch.
Recalling Santos would supply Chelsea with glorious midfield depth. Nonetheless, if Lavia does handle to remain match for the remainder of the season, the younger Brazilian might battle for constant minutes, making it a troublesome determination to recall him from a really profitable mortgage with Strasbourg thus far.
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