Ruben Amorim is keen to retain Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo
Manchester United are now facing a tough decision as TEAMtalk has reported that Kobbie Mainoo is planning to formally ask for a transfer ahead of the January window. Club insiders have accepted that the situation is getting tense despite Ruben Amorim’s public resistance to letting him leave in the winter.
The Portuguese manager has already told Mainoo that he was directly competing with Bruno Fernandes for a key midfield role, and, at 20, he has yet to start a single Premier League match this season.
Consequently, the midfielder’s chances of earning an inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for next year’s World Cup look slim. United initially denied him a loan move in the summer, though a similar request now looms ahead.
While the club insists they want him to stay, they are already looking at backup options should he force an exit. The club is also considering the high-cost targets, such as Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, as impractical.
Opinion: Why a January loan is unavoidable
Ruben Amorim is keen to retain Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo has been made aware that he is in direct competition with Bruno Fernandes for a midfield role, and so far, the 20-year-old Englishman has not started a single Premier League game this season.
Manchester United risk damaging Mainoo’s development by restricting his minutes. Although Amorim maintains he wants to keep him, his reluctance to use the youngster suggests the midfielder is not central to his plans.
A dry loan in January looks like the most logical option, particularly with Napoli ready to offer him regular playing time. Contract talks haven’t led to any agreement, and the growing frustration makes the situation harder to manage.
United must secure cover first, especially with midfield depth set to drop because of AFCON absences. It will not benefit anyone if the club keeps an unhappy player who barely featured. A temporary move will provide Mainoo with the best platform to reset his season, regain form and re-enter England’s selection thoughts while allowing Manchester United to protect his long-term value.
Currently, with the way Amorim is treating the English international, the club can’t just keep on hoping that the talented player will keep sitting on the bench without getting to play games. So, for now, we can see Mainoo’s future out of the club.