Manchester United are reportedly working on a solution to Kobbie Mainoo’s unhappiness at the club, with a potential swap deal involving Brighton among the options being explored.
The midfielder has grown frustrated at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, with the ex-Sporting manager feeling that the academy graduate does not have the skillset to play as either of his side’s two No. 8s, nor the wide No. 10s in his 3-4-3 system.
Mainoo is yet to start a Premier League fixture this season as a result, being limited to late substitute appearances instead. But with the World Cup fast-approaching, the 20-year-old is pushing to prove his worth elsewhere and force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
The playmaker saw a request to leave United on loan rejected in the summer, but the January transfer window presents a new opportunity for the youngster to force an exit.
According to United In Focus, the Red Devils are considering their options with Mainoo, though his likeliest path to a permanent exit is through a player swap deal.
Intermediaries are said to have ‘confirmed’ to United that Brighton, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are all keen to sign the midfielder – and the trio’s interest is likely to catch the eye of the higher powers at Old Trafford.
Each of the three aforementioned outfits have midfielders who are high on United’s shopping list this summer: Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliott Anderson. Therefore, the trio of swap deals are all potential solutions being discussed, though they are said to be more of a concrete possibility over the summer rather than in January.
Conor Gallagher also finds himself in a similar situation to Mainoo at Atletico Madrid, and a swap deal involving the English duo is another option which could land in Amorim’s lap.
Brighton were linked with a move for Mainoo ahead of the start of the season, and their reputation for developing talent could put them in a strong position to acquire his services if he were to become available.
However, a deal would hinge on how highly Fabian Hurzeler’s side rates Mainoo and are willing to pay to lure the youngster to the Sussex coast. If a player-swap deal were to come under consideration at the Amex Stadium then it would also rely on United accepting Brighton’s demands of over £100million for Baleba, which was an issue for the Red Devils last summer.