Chelsea prepared to make January move for Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo | OneFootball

Chelsea are prepared to try and sign Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the January transfer window if the England international indicates an interest in a move, a report has claimed.

Earlier this week, a report emerged out of nowhere claiming Chelsea were "leading the race" to sign Mainoo amid a lack of progress in negotiations over a new contract at Old Trafford.

This then sparked a series of reports on Mainoo's future at United, who no longer see the 19-year-old academy graduate as 'untouchable' because of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's desire to raise money to use in the transfer market.

While Chelsea's interest in Mainoo appeared to be geared around a cut-price deal further down the line, The Times state a move could be made as early as this month if Mainoo shows an interest.

Mainoo is under contract with United until 2027, with a 12-month extension clause effectively tying him down to 2028. The Red Devils have no active desire to sell Mainoo and remain keen to reward his emergence with a new contract, but their need to sell before buying new players has forced them to accept that every player currently on the books could be signed for the right price.

Sky Sports News stress that Mainoo is not unhappy at United, who are believed to have privately confirmed to the teenager that he is seen as a key part of the club's future.

Should Mainoo retain his commitment to United, a move to Chelsea would prove incredibly complicated as, while the Red Devils would be interested in the pure profit raised by selling academy talents, they would still likely demand an enormous figure for a player whose contract gives them control of the situation for the next three years.