Kobbie Mainoo has been told why he shouldn't join Chelsea. The 19-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month as Manchester United explore ways to raise funds during the January transfer window.

football.london understands that the Blues are long admirers of Mainoo, but that is it at the moment. It's said that the Red Devils are under pressure to comply the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules, so academy graduates – like the teenage sensation – could be offloaded this month.

Multiple sources have told football.london that Mainoo is someone Chelsea are keeping an eye on, with his contract at Old Trafford set to expire in June 2027. It's understood that there's been no contact between the West Londoners and the player, or United, about a potential move.

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Even if the England international was to jump ship, he's been warned that he wouldn't even get into Enzo Maresca's starting lineup. Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, Paul Robinson assessed Chelsea's midfield options.

"Surprise with Chelsea, absolutely," said the former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper. "But then you look at [Moises] Caicedo, [Enzo] Fernandez in their centre midfield. They’ve got injuries in that area now, like I say, but when everybody’s fit with Kobbie Mainoo in there, would he get in the team?

"No, he wouldn’t. [Romeo] Lavia’s been one of the best players in the Premier League for me this year, he’s a top, top player. When they’ve got Lavia, Caicedo, and Fernandez fit, Mainoo doesn’t get in. Everyone at Manchester United will be for sale the way things are at the moment.

"Marcus Rashford looks like he’s going to be the first one out the door, doesn’t he? So, to get those wages off the books and that space in the squad gives the manager a better option than letting somebody like Kobbie Mainoo go. It’s a surprise deal at both ends for me."

Speaking to reporters ahead of United's clash against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round, Ruben Amorim was asked about Mainoo's future at Old Trafford. The Portuguese said: "Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club but we know what position the club is in at the moment.

"We will see. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy. I really love my players, I want to keep them, especially the talented ones. It's a hard moment, I am really happy with Kobbie, he is improving."

On United's transfer plans, Amorim added: "I don't remember saying clearly that I want new players. What I said is sometimes the profile for this system is different and the players come here with a different idea of how to play. I don't remember saying that so clearly that I want new players."