Maresca must release the exciting Chelsea youngster who is better than Mainoo

Ahead of the January transfer window, the main position that seems to be in focus Enzo Maresca side is in central defence, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile currently sidelined with serious injuries and Axel Disasi is being linked with a move away.

However, central defense is not the only position Chelsea they struggle for cover, as Roméo Lavia struggles to stay fit for the second season in a row.

Just management one performance in the 2023/24 seasonLavia has a better season this term, made 12 appearanceswith one assist and a total of 588 minutes played.

This has seen Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo he is heavily relied upon in midfield, with other options such as Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga not believed to play those roles in the Premier League under Maresco.

But with the transfer window open, Chelsea could recall one of their players on loan, much like they have already done to provide depth at centre-back with Trevoh Chalobah, to provide competition and depth in midfield.

It is before signing Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United…

Chelsea’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo

Chelsea was connected with the move to Mainoo in recent weeks, as his contract negotiations with Man United hit an “impasse”.

The 19-year-old midfielder has made 18 appearances for United this season but failed to score a goal or assist in a total of 1,297 minutes played.

However, he could leave the Red Devils behind, and the team from Stamford Bridge is “leading the race” for the signature of the English representative.

But given the form of Caicedo and Fernandez, do they really need him? Probably not, especially when they may already have their own Mainoo in the ranks.

Chelsea’s own Kobbie Mainoo

Andrey Santos is currently spending the 2024/25 season. on loan with Chelsea’s “feeder” team Strasbourg in Ligue 1, this season he made 17 appearancesscoring seven goals and one assist. It’s safe to say he was pretty impressive.

The 20-year-old Brazilian was signed back in the 2023 summer transfer window, joining for a fee of around £13 million from Vasco da Gama in Brazil. Since then, he has not yet played a single senior game for the Blues.

Like Mainoo, Santos is seen as a box-to-box midfielder, who has the quality to drop deep, connect play and progress through the lines in the build-up, while also having the quality to get into the box, score goals and provide an outlet for his side.

Given the fee it would cost to bring Mainoo to the club, Chelsea could instead bring Santos back on loan. He is currently better than England this season and is aptly labeled as “a one man war machine” in the past scout Jacek Kulig.

When you analyze Santos’ metrics, you can clearly see his ability to influence all aspects of the game, he has the progressive qualities needed in midfield, the creativity to play through the lines, the nose for goal when he arrives in the penalty area and the defensive duel ability to protect his team’s defensive line.

While Mainoo shows brilliant levels of resistance to pressure, often carrying the ball flawlessly through midfield in tight spaces, Santos has the ability to do so, while also offering more out of possession, winning the ball back more often and even showing leadership qualities on the pitch.

Recalling Santos would provide Chelsea with excellent midfield depth. However, if Lavia manages to stay fit until the end of the season, the young Brazilian could struggle for consistent playing time, making it a difficult decision to recall him from his highly successful loan spell in Strasbourg.