Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been on West Ham’s radar for the last few months.
Nuno Espirito Santo wants to bring in quality in order to avoid relegation, and Mainoo has admirers at West Ham ahead of the January transfer window.
The England international is out of favour with Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese opting for Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as his preferred two midfielders.
Rio Ferdinand has urged Kobbie Mainoo to leave. He will be West Ham’s best midfielder…
How can Nuno convince him to join?
Rio Ferdinand Kobbie Mainoo
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That has led to Mainoo making just one start in all competitions this season and none in the Premier League.
All 10 of the 20-year-old’s appearances in the top flight this term have been off the bench.
Ruben Amorim issues Kobbie Mainoo update, handing West Ham transfer boost
Mainoo’s future is the hot topic at Old Trafford and Amorim seems to be asked about it every other week.
The English midfielder is from the club’s academy and had a meteoric rise as a teenager, which raised expectations.
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However, he hasn’t been a natural fit in Amorim’s system and the Manchester United manager has stated that he needs to do better to be a regular starter.
The Portuguese manager has admitted that if Mainoo comes to him about leaving on loan in January, he will have a conversation with him.
He says that he wants his players to be happy and the England international could be happier if he plays regularly.
Amorim said: “If Kobbie comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him.
“I’m not going to say what I’m going to say to Kobbie, but I will be really pleased if Kobbie is coming to talk to me about that.
“I just want my players happy and to understand that every individual has their goals. The frustration doesn’t help anybody.”
This undoubtedly increases his chances of leaving, handing the Hammers a major transfer boost.
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025
Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Can Nuno get the best out of Mainoo at West Ham?
While Freddie Potts has done well for his lack of experience in top-flight football, he still is not the finished product.
Mainoo, who is younger than him, does seem more complete and a better natural fit in this system.
A trio of Mainoo, Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa may be exactly what Nuno Espirito Santo needs to start getting wins on the board.
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More points lost…
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of West Ham, looks on prior to kick-off during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at the London Stadium in Stratford, United Kingdom, on November 30, 2025.
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He surely can get the best out of the Manchester United midfielder by playing either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
In those systems, Mainoo can be a free eight and be given the licence to make surging runs into the box.
Alan Shearer loves Mainoo
Alan Shearer was raging over Mainoo back in the 2024/25 season after he scored against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
He billed him an “incredible” talent at that point and also enjoyed how he celebrated scoring against his arch rivals.
Shearer said on The Rest Is Football: “Do you know what I loved? When he scored, I loved his celebration.
“It was like, look at me, look how cool I am. The whole world was looking at him, but you would never know because he takes everything in his stride, because he’s just so good.
“What a talent, incredible.”
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