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 present out with severe accidents and Axel Disasi being linked with a transfer 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 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 comparable 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 among their gamers out on mortgage, very similar to they’ve already executed to supply centre-back depth with Trevoh Chalobah, so as 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 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 up to now, but to supply a aim or help, totalling 1,297 minutes performed.
That mentioned, he might depart 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 actually need 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 present spending the 2024/25 marketing campaign on mortgage with Chelsea’s “feeder” staff Strasbourg in Ligue 1, making 17 appearances up to now this season, scoring seven objectives 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 payment of round £13m from Vasco da Gama in Brazil. Since then, he has but to play a single senior staff 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 way of the strains 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 payment it could value to convey Mainoo to the membership, Chelsea might as a substitute look to convey Santos again from mortgage. He’s at present outperforming the Englishman this season and has been aptly labelled as a “one-man warfare machine” prior to now 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 possibly can clearly see his potential to have an effect on all elements of play, having the progressive qualities wanted in midfield, the creativity to play by way of the strains, the nostril for a aim when arriving within the field, and having the defensive duel potential to guard his staff’s line of defense.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s aim at the very least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
While Mainoo exhibits good ranges of press resistance, typically carrying the ball seamlessly by way of the midfield in tight areas, Santos has the aptitude to do that, while additionally providing extra out-of-possession, making ball recoveries extra ceaselessly, and even exhibiting management traits on the pitch.
Recalling Santos would supply Chelsea with wonderful midfield depth. Nonetheless, if Lavia does handle to remain match for the remainder of the season, the younger Brazilian could battle for constant minutes, making it a troublesome determination to recall him from a really profitable mortgage with Strasbourg up to now.
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