Manchester United could re-sign Kobbie Mainoo’s “inspiration” after surprise report

Manchester United are open to bringing back Kobbie Mainoo’s academy ‘inspiration’ after a surprise report emerged.

Mainoo, 19, has emerged as one of the club’s standout talents this season and made himself into an important first team player for Erik ten Hag.

The teenager was highly-rated from 16 in the academy setup and it always felt like progression to the United first-team was a matter of when, not if.

Not many other players have had the same hype surrounding Mainoo but one that many will remember is Angel Gomes, who made his first-team debut under Jose Mourinho at just 16 years of age.

The delicate midfielder replaced Wayne Rooney in a game against Crystal Palace in 2017 but never properly made it at Old Trafford before his 2020 exit.

When asked by Stadium Astro about ex-academy players who were inspiration to him, Mainoo only had one clear answer.

“Academy players from the past [that I was inspired by]? Angel Gomes. He was always one that was held as one of the best,” the starlet said.

“So I always looked up to him and watched all of his clips on YouTube and stuff. He was probably the main one.”

Gomes is now excelling for Lille in Ligue 1, having made 44 appearances for the French club with 12 goal contributions from a deeper midfield role.

According to reporter Graeme Bailey, as per TBRFootball, United are now among a group of Premier League clubs who are keeping tabs on their former academy graduate.

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and West Ham have been said to be watching Gomes closely in recent months, as well as the Reds, and his former club would consider bringing him back to Old Trafford in the summer.

Gomes’ contract at Lille runs out at the end of next season and so a move away this summer seems like it could be a possibility.

Whether or not it wouild be the right decision for United, a midfield engine room consistenting of two of the most talented players to come out of the academy in recent years would be very interesting to see.