Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly adamant on wanting to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window after a frustrating start to the season for the English midfielder.
A report from CaughtOffside indicates that United are preparing for a turbulent mid-season transfer window, both in terms of incomings and outgoings to their central midfield ranks.
Despite establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in English football under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils academy graduate has found it difficult under Ruben Amorim.
Mainoo has played just 113 minutes of Premier League football — with zero starts — under the former Sporting boss so far this season, and after his exit was blocked in the summer transfer window, a January exit for the 20-year-old starlet could be an option.
Kobbie Mainoo Wants to Leave Man United in January
mainoo manchester united
Additions in the engine room are high on the priority list for Amorim at Old Trafford, as he looks to inject some much-needed dynamism into his midfield.
Man United want to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, and have also eyed Brighton & Hove Albion starlet Carlos Baleba, which has left the ten-capped England international searching for the exit doors at his boyhood club.
As attention turns to the January transfer window, the Englishman's limited start to the season and frustrations under Amorim has left the combative midfielder wanting to leave the Red Devils in January, but Mainoo's attitude at Man United remains exemplary.
Mark Brus' report states that the January transfer window will be "a very interesting one" for the Red Devils as the club could be forced to explore the transfer market for a new central midfielder, with Mainoo's feelings made clear.
Names like Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton have been on the Red Devils’ radar for some time, though neither are likely to be allowed to leave their current clubs in the middle of the season.
This poses an issue for United, though, as they face the prospect of having to replace a big name who wants to leave.
That name, not too surprisingly, is Kobbie Mainoo, according to my source I just got off the phone to.
"Kobbie Mainoo wanted to leave in the summer but United blocked it,” my source said. “'This will be one to watch again in January because he’s still not playing and interested clubs are still there."
With his ambitions to affect Thomas Tuchel's selection thoughts for England ahead of the World Cup, and his desperation to get regular minutes in the Premier League, it seems inevitable that Mainoo will exit Old Trafford in the upcoming window, with a loan move seeming most likely.
A potential solution to one of Amorim's many Man United problems may well be staring at him from the Red Devils' bench, and he could consider granting Mainoo more minutes between now and the festive period to convince the supreme talent to stay.