Former Manchester United player Scott McTominay has urged his manager Antonio Conte to make a move for out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo has only played 138 minutes of Premier League football this season for Manchester United and is yet to start a game in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim has spoken highly of Mainoo, but has explained that the Englishman is competing with Bruno Fernandes for a spot in the midfield pivot, while Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are competing for the other.
With Mainoo keen to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup in the summer, Mainoo asked to leave United on loan at the end of the summer transfer window. That request was denied.
However, given the fact his situation has not improved, it is likely that Mainoo and his representatives will once again try to facilitate a loan exit in January as he makes a last ditch effort to make England’s World Cup squad. West Ham United and Napoli among the clubs keen on the Carrington graduate.
McTominay pushes Conte to sign Mainoo
Napoli have been linked with Mainoo since the summer, but former teammate Scott McTominay has reportedly further reiterated to manager Antonio Conte that the Italian champions should sign Mainoo when the window opens in January, The Sun report.
A source speaking to The Sun said: “Scott has been to see Conte and told him to get Kobbie.
“He’s told him all about his strengths and what an outstanding player he is.
“He knows all about him from his time at United and thinks he would be a great addition to the squad, whether it’s on loan or a permanent deal.”
West Ham have also been strongly linked to a January loan move for Mainoo, and it can be expected that a number of other clubs will join the race for the midfielder if United decide to sanction a loan move in January.
Mainoo’s lack of minutes exposes Amorim’s limitations as a manager
It is completely understandable that in a 3-4-2-1 shape, Ruben Amorim doesn’t want to use a midfield pivot of Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, as it lacks defensive steel.
However, moving to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation would allow Amorim to use a midfield trio of Mainoo, Casemiro, and Fernandes, which is well-balanced.
It’s important for a manager to have principles, but those principles should not be tied to one particular formation. A formation should be chosen to best suit the players available.
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Antonio Conte is a perfect example of this. He had long used a back three during his career, but led Napoli to the Scudetto last season using a back four. Napoli, however, still played with the same principles Antonio Conte teams played with when in a back three.
Amorim is not going to change, so this conversation may well be pointless. But United have lacked control in midfield this season and Mainoo would massively help solve that. A system that leaves one of your best players on the bench is quite simply not optimal or beneficial to the club.
United have had a recent up turn in form, but do not get it twisted. Massive problems with Amorim’s set-up still exist, but quality footballers will always find ways win games.
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