Euro giant launches raid to sign United “superstar” in January with talks underway – report

Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo has found himself on the outside looking in this season. Declining role Just over two years ago, Mainoo broke through into the first team under Erik ten Hag in an accomplished Premier League debut versus Everton. Mainoo went on to massively impress, scoring two wonder goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool. He also netted the second goal in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley. His fine season was capped off by starting for England in the Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Nonetheless, injury prevented him from continuing to make strides the following season and Ruben Amorim has rarely used him as a starter since joining the club just over a year ago. This season, for example, he has been involved in nine Premier League games but started none and only played for a total of 171 minutes. Transfer rumours With the World Cup looming and Mainoo currently out of the England squad, he will be desperate for more first team minutes this season. As a result, there have been rumours that the 20 year old is keen to secure a loan move this January and SSC Napoli are one club who have been regularly linked to the player. Mainoo is said to be keen on the deal and the Italians are confident of completing a move in the winter. Il Mattino (via TuttoMercatoWeb) report that, Napoli are “already initiating contact with the player’s entourage to secure a rapid loan deal.” Napoli are suffering something of a midfield injury crisis, with Billy Gilmour the latest casualty. The Serie A champions see Mainoo as “the preferred profile” of midfielder and feel he would be very tempted due to a lack of minutes under Amorim. The Italians are also said to be keen on a simple loan deal to avoid any mandatory commitments in the winter. This is something that would likely appeal to both United and Mainoo. Kobbie Mainoo declining playing time SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssistsMinutes 2023-202432512405 2024-202537212079 2025-20261001261 Source: transfermarkt.com Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.