Kobbie Mainoo has set his sights on earning regular minutes at Manchester United over the next 16 fixtures, with his short-term future at Old Trafford still uncertain.
The 20-year-old midfielder has endured a frustrating start to the campaign, featuring just once in the Premier League with a 45 minutes cameo against Burnley before the international break. His only full 90 minutes appearance came in United’s shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town.
Determined to secure consistent playing time, and mindful of next summer’s World Cup with England, Mainoo reportedly pushed for a loan move before the September transfer deadline.
According to The Athletic, the youngster was open to a temporary switch but made it clear he had no desire to leave United permanently.
ESPN reports that Serie A champions Napoli were keen to sign Mainoo on loan, but United rejected the proposal. Napoli did, however, secure the services of Rasmus Højlund for the rest of the season. The Italian giants remain interested, and a January move is still possible if Mainoo’s situation does not improve.
United’s lack of depth in midfield complicates matters. Any potential loan exit in January would likely hinge on the arrival of a replacement, with names such as Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton already linked.
Between now and the reopening of the transfer window, United face just 16 matches due to their absence from European competition and their early Carabao Cup exit. Whether this reduced schedule benefits or hinders Mainoo’s chances remains to be seen.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has made it clear that Mainoo must fight for his place, competing directly with captain Bruno Fernandes for a midfield role. Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Fulham, Amorim said:
“He is fighting for the position now with Bruno. I like Mason Mount there because we want to score a goal. When I changed it, I felt the team needed one holding midfielder. So, he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno in training. Like it should be at Manchester United.”
Mainoo’s next opportunity to impress could come in Sunday’s Manchester derby against rivals City at the Etihad Stadium – a defining fixture as the youngster seeks to carve out his place in Amorim’s plans.
