Kobbie Mainoo Considering Leaving Man Utd After Michael Carrick Appointment

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is still considering leaving the club during the January transfer window even after the appointment of Michael Carrick, according to the Daily Mail.

The 20-year-old would have been one of the happier United players to see Ruben Amorim sacked earlier this month, having found first-team minutes hard to come by under the Portuguese manager in recent months.

The England international’s only start of the season came in Manchester United’s humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby Town, with his next call up to the XI coming when he faced Brighton and Hove Albion in Darren Fletcher’s second match in interim charge at the weekend.

Mainoo Desperate to Play Ahead of World Cup

As per the Daily Mail, despite the appointment of Carrick being imminent, the youngster is determined to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at the World Cup this summer and knows he needs to be playing regularly to have any chance of getting the call.

Fletcher says that the midfielder is in a ‘good place’ at Old Trafford as things stand, but he would be open to a loan exit before the February 2 deadline if his opportunities are going to be limited for the rest of the campaign under the incoming 44-year-old interim manager.

Mainoo is also said to have a fractious relationship with the United hierarchy as he remains one of the lowest-paid members of the first-team squad after contract talks broke down last year.

However, his ideal scenario is to stay with the Red Devils and play regularly between now and the summer.

Who Could Mainoo Leave to Join?

While United remain completely reluctant to green-light a temporary exit for Mainoo in this mid-season window, the main suitors for the midfielder seem to be from abroad.

Serie A giants Napoli are the most interested club in signing the talented Englishman, following the recent success of their deal to take Scott McTominay to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The Scotland international was named as Serie A’s MVP in his debut season in Italy, and he continues to go from strength to strength with a brace in his side’s latest 2-2 draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Should United decide Mainoo can go at any point this month, more clubs would surely come to the table to try and secure a loan switch.