"Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a central midfielder a top transfer priority for 2026, with Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo on their radar. As previously reported, Chelsea want to strengthen in midfield as one of their priorities to ease the workload on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. This has now been confirmed by a report in the Telegraph claiming that the Blues have been looking at both Wharton and Mainoo for that position."
"Given that Chelsea already have a world class midfield pairing in Caicedo and Fernandez, any new signing might struggle to start a lot of games for Enzo Maresca's side. With that in mind, CFC might not want to pay too much for someone who's only likely to be a bench or rotation player. That could mean a move for Wharton is unlikely, as he's previously also been linked with other big clubs and might cost as much as 70m, as per TEAMtalk and others."
"Mainoo could, therefore, be a better option for Chelsea to add depth, as he'll surely want out of Old Trafford after his recent struggles. Even if the 20-year-old didn't go straight into the starting XI at Stamford Bridge, he'd probably still view it as a better move after being almost completely frozen out by Ruben Amorim this season. Mainoo's current situation might also mean he's cheaper than Wharton,"
Chelsea plan to prioritise signing a central midfielder in 2026 and are targeting Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo. The club seeks midfield reinforcement to ease the workload on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Wharton commands significant interest from big clubs and could cost around £70m, making him expensive for a likely rotational role. Chelsea already possess a world-class Caicedo–Fernandez pairing, which could limit starts for any newcomer. Mainoo has had limited involvement this season and is more likely to be available at a lower price, offering younger depth and future potential.
Read at www.caughtoffside.com
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