Chelsea are reportedly keen on bringing Kobbie Mainoo to Stamford Bridge amidst uncertainty over his Manchester United future.
Towards the end of the summer transfer window, Kobbie Mainoo made a request to leave Manchester United on loan. The club turned down this request, but Mainoo has spent most of the season so far sitting on the bench.
It is likely that Mainoo will once again request to leave the club on loan in January, with Serie A giants Napoli said to be keen on bringing the midfielder to Naples.
United are reportedly reluctant to sanction a move for Mainoo, and the club would also need a replacement should the English midfielder depart.
As of now, Mainoo has been clear that he only wants to leave the club on loan and not permanently, but that stance could change if his situation doesn’t improve between now and the summer.
Mainoo to follow Garnacho
Chelsea have been linked to Mainoo on a few occasions over the last 12 months, even more so after Alejandro Garnacho’s transfer to the blue side of London.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes that Mainoo could make a move to Stamford Bridge should he leave United either in January or in the summer.
“I think it’s very unfair and I think that Mainoo, look, he’s a squandered talent in that sense. I just don’t think he’s, for some reason, he hasn’t caught Amorim’s eye. He thinks he doesn’t fit the style.
“I think that they decided that Adam Wharton is going to be one of their targets and I think that Mainoo may find himself reinventing himself at Chelsea,” Wyness said, speaking to Football Insider.
“That’s where I see the situation going and that’s the whispers I’ve been hearing. I think it would be good for Mainoo. I think he needs to get out of there and move forward.”
Talking on the ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football’ podcast, former Manchester United player Nicky Butt also alluded to the fact that Mainoo could move to Chelsea, with Paul Scholes saying he’d advise the youngster to make the move to London should Chelsea indeed make a move.
Mainoo leaving would leave stain on Amorim’s tenure
The fact that there is even a serious discussion about Mainoo potentially leaving United is unacceptable. It should never have gotten to this point.
Mainoo is one of the most talented players Carrington has ever produced, and should be playing far more than he currently is.
A midfield three of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Mainoo could function very well, but Rúben Amorim’s insistence on playing the 3-4-3 makes this unfeasible.
The shape doesn’t suit the squad at all. It means Mainoo, one of United’s best technicians, can barely get on the pitch and also sees Partick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, two defenders, consistently get into the most dangerous attacking positions.
With Amad set to depart for the African Cup of Nations, United will have no attacking-minded players who can play wing-back. With two full-backs at wing-back, United are toothless going forward. It would, therefore, now be the perfect moment for Amorim to change the shape, but the reality is he almost certainly won’t.
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