January Twist: Two clubs ready to rescue forgotten Man United ace ahead of World Cup
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo could leave the club in January.
Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season and has played for only 138 minutes across seven appearances.
Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on the future of the 20-year-old.
He said: “West Ham are offering Mainoo a guaranteed starting spot.
“Mainoo would still be open for a loan move in January, but it’s on United now. He would like to play on loan for six months then back to Manchester United.
“Napoli are looking for a midfielder after the injury of Kevin de Bruyne and Mainoo has been on their shortlist.”
United must block Mainoo’s exit
United should think long and hard before allowing one of their brightest midfielders to leave, even temporarily.
The Red Devils could only consider sanctioning Mainoo’s exit if a suitable replacement is lined up, as his departure would leave the squad dangerously thin in midfield.
Only Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte would remain as other alternatives.
Mainoo has been an integral part of the squad since bursting onto the scene in 2022, earning plaudits for his composure and technical abilities.
He has played 80 times for the Red Devils but finds himself in the middle of a testing spell, battling for minutes and confidence in a highly competitive setup.
Manager Ruben Amorim believes Mainoo must challenge captain Bruno Fernandes for the number eight role.
Amorim wants him to develop greater positional awareness before being trusted as a holding midfielder.
Even at 33, Casemiro has brought more discipline to the midfield compared to Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.
If the academy graduate wants to reclaim his spot, he could do well to take a page out of Casemiro’s playbook.
Once considered a fifth-choice option, Casemiro has fought his way back into Amorim’s plans and is now virtually undroppable.
The situation around Mainoo has worsened due to the World Cup scheduled for next year.
The youngster has already lost his place in the England setup to Elliot Anderson, and a continued lack of playing time could see him miss out on a spot in the World Cup squad altogether.
A loan move to West Ham United or Napoli could prove tempting as he looks to regain his spot.
Stats from Fotmob.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .