Officials at Stamford Bridge are studying the transfer market for options as they are concerned about being left short in central midfield.
There is an acceptance that January is looking like a tricky period to properly fix their problems, but they would be open to the right solution for the second half of the season.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez play almost every minute when available, and injuries to Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo have proved problematic as the club assesses their chances of winning silverware this season.
Reece James has performed well in midfield, but club sources admit they are on the lookout for opportunities that will arise in 2026.
Like many clubs, Chelsea holds an interest in Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, but it is Mainoo who may be a more attainable option.
The United stance on Mainoo is that they are not agreeing to his request to leave in January; however, we understand it is a situation they are willing to revisit if they manage to sign a new midfielder themselves.
And if he does become available, it could be a market opportunity that Chelsea can not ignore.
The Blues have monitored him for some time and believe they would have a chance of getting him in a move that would see him follow the path taken by Alejandro Garnacho.
Such a signing may even help ease tensions within the club at a time when head coach Enzo Maresca is under increasing scrutiny.
Maresca is not one to hide his feelings and recently described how he endured “the worst 48 hours” of his time at Chelsea in the build-up to their 2–0 win over Everton.
It is believed those remarks were a jibe at Chelsea’s owners and sporting directors, as the coach appears to feel he does not have the full trust of senior figures behind the scenes.
Generally, next month is considered a period when Chelsea will once again prioritise signing young players for the future - but the January window is known to be a period when plans can quickly change, and Chelsea are remaining open-minded in that sense.
