Manchester United outcast Kobbie Mainoo is set to be handed an escape route in the January transfer window as the midfielder looks to return to the England squad in time for the World Cup
20:20, 01 Nov 2025
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on October 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Kobbie Mainoo has the chance to leave Manchester United in January(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
Napoli are prepared to cover Kobbie Mainoo's entire salary in a bid to secure his signature in the January transfer window.
The Italian champions are eager to bring the Manchester United outcast to Naples in the coming months. Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has assured United that he is ready to meet Mainoo's £35,000-a-week wage packet.
De Laurentiis has consulted Napoli stars Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay about Mainoo - both players have endorsed the England midfielder as a fantastic addition to Antonio Conte's squad.
Napoli attempted to sign Mainoo in the summer, but he chose to stay at United when Ruben Amorim expressed his desire to retain him. However, Mainoo has remained on the periphery of Amorim's team, making just eight appearances across all competitions this season.
It's believed that Napoli are keen to initially loan Mainoo, with plans to make the move permanent come summer. Mainoo recognises that he'll need to depart Old Trafford to secure regular playing time, especially if he hopes to be considered for England's 2026 World Cup squad.
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United warms up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on October 19, 2025. (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Mainoo has been replaced at Old Trafford(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Napoli have had previous success with signing United players, with McTominay being crowned the Serie A Player of the Season during their title-winning campaign. Rasmus Hojlund has also hit the ground running since joining on loan in the summer, netting four goals in his first seven matches.
Mainoo falls into the category of a frustrated player seeking more regular playing time. As of this weekend, the 20-year-old United academy graduate had only started one game for United this season, which was their disastrous defeat to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.
He's been dropped to the bench in the Premier League, with Amorim favouring Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in central midfield.
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Mainoo's departure was blocked on deadline day, with Amorim outlining his expectations for the young player in September.
"I didn't have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn't want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him," he said. "I did it this week.
Article continues below
"I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better. For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it's not fair, but I think I'm helping Kobbie and that's it."