After a lack of game time this season, Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo could be set for a move to the Serie A amid the advice of Scott McTominay.
With the January transfer window fewer than two months away, Manchester United face several transfer decisions this January as Rúben Amorim will be looking to continue his side’s promising form from the first half of the season into the second.
In terms of arrivals, reports suggest the club are considering bringing in a new midfielder to strengthen the position, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo.
However, with United playing just once a week for much of the campaign so far, a number of players have struggled for game time, sparking speculation about potential departures.
Both Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are yet to start a Premier League match this season and are reportedly keen on securing loan moves in January to boost their chances of making their national teams for the World Cup.
Door reopened by Napoli for Mainoo move
According to a report from The Mirror, Napoli are set to go back in for Mainoo, who they tried to sign in the summer, with the 20-year-old ultimately deciding to stay at his boyhood club.
After not seeing his minutes pick up three months into the season, there is a chance that Mainoo will feel forced to seek a move in January in search of regular game time ahead of the World Cup next June.
The outlet reports that Napoli wants to take Mainoo on an initial loan, with a view to making the deal permanent in the summer.
Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has reportedly told United that he’s prepared to honour the Englishman’s £35,000-a-week contract and has spoken to current Napoli stars Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay about Mainoo, who have both highly recommended the Italian outfit to pursue a move for the highly coveted midfielder.
With Mainoo still open to a temporary Old Trafford exit, TEAMtalk have claimed that his January exit from his boyhood club has edged closer to reality, with Napoli aggressively pushing the loan proposal.
Mainoo may be forced to stay
The lack of game time for such a talented midfielder is concerning, and it begs the question as to what Amorim has seen from the midfielder that has warranted Mainoo picking up just 138 Premier League minutes.
Casemiro’s return to form will certainly be a major factor as to why his minutes have been limited, and with the captain, Bruno Fernandes, being irreplaceable, it has been hard for Mainoo to break into Amorim’s two-man midfield.
Despite this, there is very much the chance that any potential move away for the 20-year-old will be blocked in January, as Amorim has the African Cup of Nations to deal with, which runs from December 21 until January 18, with three United players in Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, and Noussair Mazraoui all set to compete.
Amorim will most likely play Fernandes further forward, in place of Mbeumo, meaning that there is an opportunity for Mainoo to slot into the midfield well for the six games that the three players may miss should their respective countries make a deep run in the competition.
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