Michael Carrick has talked up what Kobbie Mainoo can bring to Manchester United as he's linked with an interim return - but their refusal to offload the midfielder has had a knock on affect
Kobbie Mainoo was back in the Man Utd starting XI on Sunday
Kobbie Mainoo was back in the Man Utd starting XI on Sunday(Image: )
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Michael Carrick believes there is a place for Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United with the potential interim boss having the chance to bring the midfielder back into the fold.
After months of warming the bench under Ruben Amorim the midfielder was handed a start in the FA Cup loss to Brighton. With the changes in the dugout it looks as if the academy graduate could find himself receiving more minutes than he had done previously.
Amorim's sporadic use of Mainoo had seen him linked with the exit door, but the club had been keen to retain him and with the Portuguese head coach now gone it is almost certain that he will remain. Carrick is the favourite to take charge of the team until the end of the season.
He had a spell as caretaker in 2021, which followed his time as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former United midfielder claimed in the summer that Mainoo's connection to United makes him a huge asset.
Carrick said: "I think for a club to have a player that has come through the academy, knows the club and feels it - that's massive. To have a talent like that, as he's already shown, you've got to say: 'Right, he gets it, he knows it - let's help him, build on him, and stick with him. I think there's definitely a place for him."
United have been linked with midfield reinforcements - which was something Amorim wanted but never got in his tenure. Before he was axed it was clear that the team needed more legs in the middle of the pitch, with the 3-4-3 formation often seeing the Red Devils outnumbered in midfield.
They were linked with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, but ultimately landed no one. They have also been eyeing up Wolves' Joao Gomes, but he is now being targeted by Napoli as the Italians look to raid more Premier League talent.
Joao Gomes is one of Wolves' prized assets and has been linked with a move to Manchester United
Joao Gomes is a target for Manchester United and Napoli(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
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Napoli had been keen on Mainoo amid talk of a loan move. But United's decision to refuse any offers for their academy star has led the Serie A outfit to turning their attention to Gomes, reports the Daily Mail, as he continues to be a bright light in what is a struggling Wolves side.
Wolves boss Rob Edwards has already claimed that the club will be open to doing the right business - even if it means players leaving. When quizzed on striker Jorgen Strand Larsen he said: "I just said that every good player we have at the moment, there will be interest. If it’s right for the football club we will see, but at the moment there is nothing to talk about. He is showing his commitment to the football club.”
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