Kobbie Mainoo needs to make a decision on his future quickly as numerous clubs including Tottenham Hotspur lurk
Despite a few disappointing results in the Premier League in recent weeks, Tottenham remain just one point away from returning to the top four. The poor display against Chelsea last weekend exposed several weaknesses within the squad. The Lilywhites were second best throughout the game and were comfortably outplayed at N17.
The Spurs midfield in particular struggled to cope, lacking the mobility and intensity needed to compete with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. They were slow to react to second balls and allowed Chelsea far too much time and space in midfield. On top of that, Tottenham lacked a midfielder capable of progressing play, someone who could dictate the tempo and drive forward with the ball when needed.
Kobbie Mainoo needs to make a decision on his future quickly as numerous clubs including Tottenham Hotspur lurk .
Tottenham are trying hard to land Kobbie Mainoo in January.
At present, there is no player in the squad who naturally fits the role of a progressive midfielder under Thomas Frank. To make matters even more difficult, James Maddison, who could have flourished as an #8, is side-lined with an ACL injury suffered in pre-season. This highlights the growing need for Tottenham to reinforce their midfield in the upcoming transfer window.
Tottenham face competition from Spanish giants for January target Kobbie Mainoo
It is no surprise that Tottenham are preparing to strengthen the midfield in January, as they aim to build on their encouraging start to the season. Thomas Frank is looking for a box-to-box midfielder, someone capable of carrying the ball forward and linking play with the front four consistently.
Recent reports indicate that Spurs are interested in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. The England international is open to going out on loan for the second half of the season after falling down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim. Tottenham have been monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation and are considering offering him regular minutes in North London.
However, securing Mainoo will not be straightforward. According to Mark Brus (via CaughtOffside), Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all keeping a close eye on the youngster. The interest from these clubs is described as genuine, with Atletico currently seen as the frontrunners. This places Tottenham lower in the race for his signature.
In truth, this may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham. Even if Spurs were to sign Mainoo on loan, there would be no realistic chance of a permanent move. The player has already made it clear that he intends to return to Old Trafford next summer and push for a fresh start under Amorim. Developing him, giving him game time and rebuilding his confidence only for him to rejoin a direct Premier League rival would not benefit Spurs in the long term.
As the January transfer approaches, Tottenham will need to consider alternative midfield targets who can contribute both immediately and in future seasons. The coming weeks will reveal how the club plans to address this key area of the team as we slowly head towards the January transfer window.