Chelsea's £500m-rated starting XI if transfer rumours are true - including Manchester United pair

Chelsea will be desperate to add some more talent to their squad as they aim to keep pace in the race for a Champions League spot, with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Manchester City challenging them for a top four place.

Enzo Maresca has already made one transfer move this January as they have recalled defender Trevoh Chalobah from his loan deal at Crystal Palace. He will fill in for the injured Wesley Fofana, who is set to be out for the majority of the rest of the season.

Recent transfer rumours have linked the Blues with several world-class players, but what could their starting XI look like, should those rumours become true?

Chelsea land £46m-rated defender

GK - Robert Sanchez

Defence - Malo Gusto, Ousmane Diomande, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella

Chelsea have been linked with signing Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who has become a mainstay in the starting XI for the Portuguese side this season. He has made 17 league appearances for Sporting. Rivals Arsenal were linked to signing Diomande during the summer transfer window, but now it seems that he is more likely to make a move to Stamford Bridge. According to Caught Offside, he has a release clause of £68m, however, a deal around the £46m mark could be enough to tempt Sporting CP to sell him this month.

The report states that Chelsea are currently the frontrunners to land Diomande, however, Arsenal are still said to be monitoring him. Other than that, Chelsea have not been linked to many defenders in recent days, so Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill make up Maresa’s back line amid Fofana’s long-term injury.

Kobbie Mainoo makes shock Premier League switch

Midfield - Enzo Fernandez, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer

Chelsea have also been linked with Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, as they believe that United could sell him in order to make ‘pure profit’ in accordance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

The Blues are said to have contacted Mainoo’s representatives in order to tempt him from signing a new contract at Old Trafford. He could feature alongside Enzo Fernandez in Maresca’s midfield. The two would play behind attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, who is valued at around £110m, making him the fourth-most valuable Premier League player according to TransferMarkt.

Chelsea land second Manchester United star

Wingers - Noni Madueke, Alejandro Garnacho

Striker - Nicolas Jackson

Mainoo isn’t the only United player that Chelsea have been linked to in recent days as reports also suggest that they could make a move for Alejandro Garnacho, who has attracted interest from Serie A side Napoli too.

Garnacho has struggled to find consistent form for United this season, making 21 appearances in the Premier League, with three goals and one assist. Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be keen on the 20-year-old who could leave Old Trafford in the January window.

He would feature alongside England international Noni Madueke in the wide areas, with Maresca having a selection dilemma considering he also had Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho at his disposal. Furthermore, we have Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea’s starting striker, due to his nine goals in the Premier League so far this season. However, recent transfer rumours have linked the Blues to signing Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who the Reds paid £85m for in 2022 from Benfica.