Why Manchester United may loan Kobbie Mainoo in January

It is unlikely that United will allow Mainoo to leave the club permanently in January, with a loan far more likely, if he is to depart at all.

There have been contrasting reports on the status of Mainoo’s loan, with Napoli suggested as the top contender for his signature.

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano has explained Napoli’s current stance on signing Mainoo.

“It’s normal that some of the clubs interested in Kobbie Mainoo. For example, Napoli hope for the possibility to get the player as soon as possible.”

“They need players. Not only Napoli, but more than 10 clubs are interested in Kobbie. So let’s see what’s going to happen there.

“At the moment, there is still no green light from United, and unless the situation changes in the next days, everything depends on United or Ruben Amorim and on the timing of this story.”

Napoli’s director has even discussed Mainoo and a potential deal for the 20-year-old midfielder saying: “We are making assessments. It is too early to talk about other profiles.”

Kobbie Mainoo could find success in Serie A, similar to Pogba

Napoli aren’t the only side keeping tabs on the midfielder. Juventus have also been linked, and it could end up being a situation similar to when Paul Pogba left United.

Mainoo shares similarities with Pogba in terms of technical ability but still needs to build more trust without the ball, as Amorim’s limited use of him has shown.

The pace of Serie A might suit him well, giving him more opportunities to focus on what he does best rather than having to cover as much ground off the ball.

Scott McTominay became a key figure at Napoli, and Mainoo has even more upside. The move could give the academy product the platform he needs to take another step forward in his career.