Mainoo at centre of ten-way battle royale as clubs across Europe eye January move – report

Kobbie Mainoo is still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season for Manchester United, and it looks like something has to give. The 20-year-old has fallen down the Old Trafford pecking order under Ruben Amorim, who has persevered with a midfield axis of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. With just 138 minutes of league football under his belt this season, and a World Cup coming up next summer, the midfielder’s situation is becoming untenable. January exit Amorim has insisted that players won’t be allowed to leave in January as his squad requires depth, particularly with AFCON around the corner ready to take the likes of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo away. But Mainoo is understood to be pushing for a January exit. A CaughtOffside source claims that “they stopped him leaving in the summer, but make no mistake, he wants out, and the club know that”. The player did come close to departing towards the end of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea very interested in the talented youngster. The England international didn’t get his desired move but won’t be feeling any more positive about his prospects at the club ten games into the Premier League season. Ten teams interested Fortunately for him, there is no shortage of interest in his services from the English top-flight and further afield. CaughtOffside claim that as many as ten clubs would be interested in offering Mainoo a way out of Old Trafford in January. The outlet reiterate that Napoli are “leading the race for his signature”, but add that nine other sides are interested. The list includes a trio of Spanish giants in Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and a host of Premier League clubs. Chelsea remain keen, and CaughtOffside indicate that Mainoo’s name may well have come up in previous contact between the clubs, while Leeds United retain interest after pursuing a loan in the summer. Manchester City and Newcastle United are cooling on the player but are still keeping an eye on proceedings, as are Tottenham Hotspur and Everton. CaughtOffside do not reference any interest from West Ham United, with the London club reportedly waiting on a decision from Amorim as to whether Mainoo can leave. Whatever happens, it looks likely that United will part ways with the 20-year-old in a couple of month’s time – the hope is that it’s only on loan, and that he can be reintegrated in the summer. Featured image George Wood 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 Joe Ponting Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried. He cut his teeth working in print media for local newspapers and entered football journalism covering the grassroots game for the Non-League Paper. Here he achieved a career high, interviewing United legend Sir Bobby Charlton to get his views on the lower echelons of the football pyramid. To kill time during international breaks Joe writes album reviews and has strong views on post punk for Plus One Magazine.