Napoli are keen to beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo
Tottenham’s resurgence in the Premier League this season has been nothing short of impressive. The Lilywhites are finally starting to look like a side ready to build on last year’s Europa League triumph under Thomas Frank. The Danish tactician has managed to bring the best out of his players, and Spurs now appear poised to close the gap on their domestic rivals as the campaign progresses.
However, despite their promising start, the North London club still have a few issues to address if they want to compete on all fronts. While Tottenham’s midfield has been one of the strongest aspects of their setup under Frank, the squad lacks sufficient depth to sustain the intensity required across multiple competitions. Relying too heavily on Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall could prove risky as the season wears on, especially with the club targeting success both in England and in Europe.
Napoli are keen to beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo.
Tottenham are keen to sign Kobbie Mainoo in January.
Frank’s system places a heavy emphasis on midfielders who can dictate play from deep and drive the team forward against high-pressing opponents. At present, there isn’t a single player in the squad capable of fulfilling that role with consistency, forcing the Spurs boss to prioritise physicality over creativity in the centre of the pitch.
Tottenham might suffer late setback in their hopes to sign Kobbie Mainoo
Recent reports suggest Tottenham want to land Kobbie Mainoo in January after failing to land the talented midfielder in the summer. The England international has fallen down the pecking order at M16, and has relayed his intentions of leaving the club on a short-term deal in the upcoming transfer window to Ruben Amorim. The Lilywhites are keeping tabs on the 20-year-old and seem determined to bring him to North London in the coming months.
However, Spurs might face a stumbling block if they want to sign Mainoo. As per Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli are willing to go all-in one final time for the Englishman’s signature in January. The Serie A giants are going to be without Kevin De Bruyne for quite some time now after the Belgian got injured against Inter. And to add depth in that position, the Naples-based team are willing to roll the dice one last time for the Manchester United prodigy.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham are willing to enter a drag race with Napoli for Mainoo’s signature. Also, the England international might favour a move to Italy as his game-style is more suited for the Serie A. The chance to play under Antonio Conte and alongside Scott McTominay is another reason why he would opt to go abroad in the coming months.
For Spurs, it does not make sense to try and lure the talented midfielder to N17. The Lilywhites stand no chance of signing him permanently next summer given his long-term commitment to Manchester United. In that case, the North Londoners would be doing the Red Devils a favour by developing Mainoo’s game and sending him back to M16 once his loan deal ends.
So, where will the 20-year-old end up in the summer? Only time will tell.