Ruben Amorim on the Old Trafford touchline as his Manchester United side take on Sunderland in the Premier League | Gareth Copley/Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Ruben Amorim on the Old Trafford touchline as his Manchester United side take on Sunderland in the Premier League | Gareth Copley/Getty Images | Getty Images
Man United have a lot of decisions to make in 2026 as they eye up significant changes to their current squad
Manchester United find themselves in a tough situation as at least 12 rival clubs have reportedly registered their interest in signing Kobbie Mainoo next year.
The midfielder currently finds himself struggling for regular minutes under Ruben Amorim but Football Insider has reported that the Red Devils have ‘no plans’ to let the midfielder leave Old Trafford, despite him making just one start in all competitions this season.
The outlet reported at the start of the year that United are not even willing to entertain the idea of a loan exit. However, it has been suggested that this stance could change while Premier League interest remains high.
Chelsea ‘leading the chase’ to sign Kobbie Mainoo
A fresh update from CaughtOffside reports that ‘at least’ 12 clubs are currently in the picture to sign Mainoo from United. Chelsea and Bayern Munich are ‘leading the chase’ for his signature but the player’s preference is said to be Napoli, as he feels he will be guaranteed a starting position.
Mainoo is looking to get as many minutes under his belt as possible ahead of the World Cup, to boost his chances of making the cut in Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Former United teammate Scott McTominay also made the move to Napoli and he has been thriving at his new club. Mainoo is said to be interested in following a similar path to the Scotland international and he would be expected to take on a regular starting role with the Italian powerhouses.
Former Everton scout Keith Wyness has also weighed in on Mainoo’s situation and he believes that United will entertain interest from Chelsea, especially as they remain keen on signing Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace.
“I think it’s very unfair and I think that Mainoo, look, he’s a squandered talent in that sense. I just don’t think he’s, for some reason, he hasn’t caught Amorim’s eye. He thinks he doesn’t fit the style,” Wyness told Football Insider.
“I think that they decided that Adam Wharton is going to be one of their targets and I think that Mainoo may find himself reinventing himself at Chelsea.
“That’s where I see the situation going and that’s the whispers I’ve been hearing. I think it would be good for Mainoo. I think he needs to get out of there and move forward.”
Will Man United sign Adam Wharton?
Wharton is another highly sought-after transfer target right now and United are among those pushing to sign him in 2026.
According to The Guardian, United are in the running to sign the England international, but Liverpool and Real Madrid are also in the frame. Crystal Palace aren’t willing to let the midfielder leave for cheap either.
The Eagles will reportedly demand in excess of £80 million for anyone looking to sign Wharton, and chairman Steve Parish recently said that the club are making ‘contingency plans’ in case they do need to replace the midfielder.
Whether United will pay such a price remains to be seen but Wharton is a player who has been on their radar for a while now. They have also been heavily linked with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba of Brighton as they eye a major midfield restructure.
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