Sports
Amorim has a “hidden gem” who could end Mainoo’s Man Utd career for good
The January transfer window is just around the corner and it will be interesting to see what Manchester United decide they need to do with their squad.
They may look to bring players in to bolster Ruben Amorim‘s squad for the second half of the season, but they may also decide to offload some of the players on the fringes of the group.
Kobbie Mainoo, for example, is one star whose future at Old Trafford has been thrown into doubt due to his lack of minutes on the pitch this season, with zero Premier League starts, per Sofascore.
The latest on Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are leading the race to sign the England international from Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The report claims that there are at least 12 teams in the race to sign the 20-year-old starlet next month, but it is Chelsea and Bayern who are at the front of the queue at the moment.
Despite that, CaughtOffside adds that Napoli is where Mainoo would like to go the most, as he wants to go somewhere where he will start games on a regular basis, after struggling for minutes under Ruben Amorim.
CaughtOffside, however, does not reveal whether a loan or a permanent move is in the offing, or how much money the Red Devils would want for the central midfielder.
Amorim could give INEOS the green light to cash in on Mainoo by unleashing Sekou Kone in the first-team to show that they have an option already in the building who can step up and take his place.
How Sekou Kone could end Kobbie Mainoo’s Man Utd career
The 19-year-old star, who joined the academy in the summer of 2024, missed the start of this season with a fractured eye socket, per Transfermarkt, but made his return to action last month.
Kone scored two goals in two games for Mali’s U22 side in the last international break, after playing against Notts County in the EFL Trophy for United’s U21s, and this means that he could be in contention for a first-team call-up, as he is fit and available for selection.
Last season, the teenage midfielder scored two goals and provided one assist in 15 appearances for United’s academy in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and made the bench for three Premier League games, which shows that he has been in Amorim’s thoughts.
U23 scout Antonio Mango described Kone as a “hidden gem”, which seems apt given his injury lay-off this season, and he could come out of almost nowhere to take Mainoo’s spot in the squad.
As aforementioned, the England international has not started a single Premier League match for the Red Devils this term, coming off the bench in all ten of his appearances.
|
Kobbie Mainoo’s dwindling minutes |
|
|---|---|
|
Competition |
Minutes per game |
|
25/26 All comps |
26.4 |
|
25/26 Premier League |
20.0 |
|
24/25 All comps |
56.4 |
|
24/25 Premier League |
66.2 |
|
23/24 All comps |
76.0 |
|
23/24 Premier League |
80.8 |
As you can see in the table above, Mainoo’s minutes on the pitch per game has gone down each season since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, in all competitions and in the Premier League.
This illustrates how the appointment of Amorim has affected the central midfielder’s career at Old Trafford, and why he now has a role that could suit a player like Kone.
The Mali youth international is a 19-year-old talent who has plenty to learn and little exposure to first-team football, which is why playing a role as a back-up midfield option who rarely, if ever, starts could be the perfect spot for him this season.
Whereas, Mainoo played regular senior minutes earlier in his career at Old Trafford and should be looking to find a club where he can get back to that, which is why he is wasted in his current role at United.
Analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed that Kone has “ball-winning prowess” and an “engine” that would make him ideally suited to Amorim’s pressing structure in the left-sided central midfield position.
Mattinson added that the youngster is “silky” on the ball to go along with his defensive qualities and high physical “ceiling”, which could make him an interesting player to use alongside Bruno Fernandes, who can push further forward with Kone playing as a deep-lying midfielder.
Forget Mbeumo: “Pogba-esque” Man Utd star looks like INEOS’ best deal yet
INEOS’ best deal to date at Manchester United may have come from an unlikely source.
Whilst the academy star is unproven at first-team level, unleashing Kone in the first-team in the coming weeks and months could provide United with the cushion that they need to end Mainoo’s career at the club, amid interest from 12 teams, as they would have a player who can step into his role.
