Manchester United boss Michael Carrick would love to see Kobbie Mainoo handed an England recall when Thomas Tuchel makes his final selection before naming his World Cup squad.
Carrick heaps praise on Mainoo ahead of World Cup
The German has not picked anybody playing for the Red Devils – a club with whom he was in talks to replace Erik ten Hag in mid-2024 – since succeeding Sir Gareth Southgate at the start of last year.
Mainoo’s absence was particularly understandable given he did not make a Premier League start in the first half of the season, but he has been a key figure under Carrick.
Mainoo-Newcastle-Man-Utd
“Of course he can always improve, and on a lot of things, just the age he’s at just for starters,” Carrick said ahead of Friday’s trip to Bournemouth.
“There’s so much more to come and develop, and that’s just natural. That’s not a negative on Kobbie, by any stretch. That’s just the stage he’s at in his career.
“Hopefully he has got a lot of layers to improve and keep developing on that.
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“I think he’s done really well. You know, not having a lot of football for a period of time, to come in and play a run of games and find your rhythm, I think he did that really quickly.
“There’s a natural kind of a flow, and I thought he was really good again on the weekend and put in a performance where he did a little bit of everything, and controlled the game in spells, defended when he had to defend and I’m really impressed with him.”
The youngster could lose his midfield partner this summer with Casemiro expected to depart, and the Red Devils have been linked with a number of replacements, most recently Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali.
tonali-newcastle
Tonali's agent has been making noise about an exit for some time, which has ruffled some feathers on Tyneside, and reports suggest United are already working on a move, with the Italy international keen to join.
However, Newcastle's asking price will be huge, and United could instead turn to Brighton's Carlos Baleba, who has regressed this season and may force the Seagulls into a sale, having already had his head turned last summer.
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[Man Utd now "seriously" working to sign £87m Premier League star who's open to Old Trafford move](https://www.footballfancast.com/man-utd-now-seriously-attempting-sandro-tonali-transfer-premier-league/ "Man Utd now "seriously" working to sign £87m Premier League star who's open to Old Trafford move")
The Red Devils are working on a move for a "sensational" player.
That hasn't stopped INEOS from shopping at St James' Park though, and it appears they now have their eyes on a different Magpies star instead of Tonali.
Manchester United considering move for Anthony Gordon
Indeed, Anthony Gordon's future wiill be a big talking point this summer amid interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. Manchester United are now considering joining the race, with the winger viewed as a direct replacement for Marcus Rashford, Football FanCast sources understand.
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon applauds fans after the match
Rashford has agreed terms on a permanent move to Barcelona, and United will bank around £26m from his exit, which will go down as pure profit thanks to his emergence from the club's academy.
INEOS transformed the frontline last summer with moves for Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but there is still a feeling they are a winger light if they secure Champions League qualification.
Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan, has been sensational for Newcastle in the Champions League this season, scoring ten times, making him the second top scorer in Europe's elite competition as things stand, behind only Kylian Mbappe.
Whether Newcastle would be willing to sanction two big sales to a top flight rival is up for debate, so a move for Gordon could force United to look elsewhere for midfield targets.