Manchester United and Man City have both taken 7 points from their opening 5 matches of the seasonplaceholder image
Manchester United and Man City have both taken 7 points from their opening 5 matches of the season | AFP via Getty Images
Man City are one of several clubs that have been linked to signing a Manchester United midfielder in January.
Manchester United are looking ahead to the weekend when they make the trip to play against Brentford. It will be Bryan Mbeumo’s first return to the Gtech Community Stadium since leaving for Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
One player who will be hoping to start is midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has had a lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim this season. Amorim has been reluctant to start Mainoo since joining Old Trafford, which forced the midfielder to request a loan move away in the summer transfer window.
United decided against loaning Mainoo away, but Amorim hasn’t been playing the midfielder since. If he continues on the bench, United could decide to cash in on him in the January transfer window.
Barcelona keen on Mainoo amid Gavi injury
Barcelona already have one United loanee in the form of Marcus Rashford, and reports in Spain are suggesting that they could target another one after midfielder Gavi suffered a serious injury recently.
The Spanish midfielder could be out for over five months with a meniscus injury which has caused him to undergo surgery, and so Barcelona will need to find a replacement. The La Liga club have reportedly identified Mainoo as that replacement on a potential loan-to-buy deal.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Mainoo has emerged as a target for Barcelona, and talks between the La Liga club and Man United could accelerate in the coming months ahead of the January transfer window, especially if Mainoo’s game time at Old Trafford doesn’t improve under Amorim.
It is worth mentioning that Mainoo only ever wanted a loan move away from United, and he still sees his long-term future with his boyhood club. If Amorim was to start playing him more often, a move becomes much less likely.
Man City and Real Madrid have been linked with Mainoo too
Barcelona aren’t the only major club that are keeping an eye on Mainoo, as both Man City and Real Madrid have been linked. Madrid have been a potential destination for Mainoo for several years now since he broke out at Old Trafford, however, they have also been linked to the likes of Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace.
Earlier in September, rivals Man City were linked to Mainoo as it was reported that Pep Guardiola is a massive fan of the midfielder. It feels unlikely that the Red Devils would willingly sell one of their most promising players to their Manchester rivals but you can never say never.
If Amorim continues to prioritise the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte over Mainoo, the midfielder’s patience could wain, and he could demand a transfer away as soon as the January transfer window. The 20-year-old’s future is really up to Amorim and his willingness to start him in the Premier League.
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