Kobbie Mainoo ‘receptive’ to Napoli Switch Amid Man United Development

Kobbie Mainoo has opened the door to a Manchester United exit with a move to Napoli on the cards.

According to reports from TeamTalk, the midfielder is open to joining the Serie A champions as he looks to reignite his career away from Old Trafford.

Antonio Conte, who manages Napoli, sees Mainoo as “the final piece of the puzzle” with the club willing to meet the Red Devils’ financial demands in order to get a deal done in January.

For Mainoo, it is a big decision but one that he is ready to make.

Kobbie Mainoo Ready To Jump Ship

Mainoo is at a real crossroads in his Manchester United career. With first team opportunities limited under Ruben Amorim, the 20-year-old risks seeing his potential fizzle out unless he starts playing regular first team football.

As per TeamTalk, Mainoo would ideally like to stay in the Premier League, but is “increasingly receptive” to a move to Napoli after witnessing Scott McTominay’s success in Naples and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s resurgence with AC Milan.

An insider told the report: “Kobbie sees the pathway. Regular football in a title race and Europe is exactly what he needs for the World Cup.”

It’s claimed that Napoli are proposing a straight loan deal with the option to buy, with the Italian side covering Mainoo’s £31,250 a week wage packet. President Aurelio De Laurentiis has green-lit the deal, viewing the teenager as a long-term successor to Stanislav Lobotka.

Mainoo has also been assured of a starring role alongside McTominay and fellow Brit, Billy Gilmour, who has also flourished since leaving Brighton for life in Naples.

Man United are open to a deal, but only on the condition that a replacement is signed first. The Red Devils are keen to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham with the ex-Newcastle United midfielder a transfer target for 2026. However, Amorim’s side could struggle to do a deal with Forest demanding a fee in excess of £100million.

However, Fabrizio Romano has exclusively revealed on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast that Man United would prefer to keep hold of Mainoo with Amorim valuing his presence in the squad.

Mainoo was heavily linked with an exit last summer but was told to stay as United failed in their pursuit of Brighton starlet Carlos Baleba, who now looks unlikely to be available in January.

The midfielder has made 80 appearances for Man United, scoring seven goals in the process.