Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is being targeted by a Premier League rival, it has been claimed.
The graduate of the United academy has faced challenges in securing playing time under Ruben Amorim, having been limited to merely 73 minutes of Premier League action thus far this season.
In fact, Mainoo, who scored United’s crucial goal in the 2024 FA Cup final and was a starter for England in the Euro 2024 final, has been so deprived of playing time under Amorim that he requested a loan at the conclusion of the summer transfer window. This request was declined by his manager.
Nevertheless, a report from TalkSport has indicated that Mainoo might still leave United during the January transfer window, with Newcastle United reportedly monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is said to be a fan of Mainoo and would allegedly contemplate challenging United’s determination in January if the player continues to be sidelined.
TalkSport further noted that Mainoo’s teammates are “perplexed” by Amorim’s lack of trust in the player, a sentiment echoed by many supporters at Old Trafford and various pundits.
Prior to last Sunday’s Manchester derby, however, Amorim provided an explanation for the limitations on Mainoo’s playing time.
“I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him,” explained Amorim. “I did it this week.
“I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better.
“For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie and that’s it.”
Amorim added: “The way I play is completely different from the last manager. I watched a lot of Premier League games when I was in Portugal. You can feel the Manchester United team was really transitional.
“Sometimes I looked at Kobbie Mainoo and felt he was the only guy who calmed the game down. Now we have other players who can do that and we play a different game.
“Kobbie is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as an eight he has to reach the box and return. Sometimes he has to cover a lot of space with just two [players].
“He could play as a six (defensive midfielder) but sometimes he passes the ball and goes away, which is not a reference as a six.
“We have to balance everything. He has the technical ability but he needs to understand the position better. He needs to play in different speeds – sometimes lower, sometimes faster. He can improve on that.”
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