Newcastle United are reportedly considering their options around a potential move for Manchester United winger Kobbie Mainoo during the January transfer window. The 20-year-old wanted to leave the Red Devils due to lack of game time under manager Ruben Amorim in the recently concluded summer transfer window, but his request was categorically rejected by the club hierarchy ahead of the deadline day earlier this month.
It is understood that Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is an admirer of Kobbie Mainoo, and he won’t mind going after the player if Manchester United keep him on the bench more often than not, as reported by talkSPORT. Notably, in the Manchester derby concluded on the weekend, which United lost to City 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium,
Mainoo was a used substitute, not starting any of the four Premier League matches for the club this season.
In the same report, it was also revealed that the teammates of Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United are perplexed about why Ruben Amorim has had a lack of faith in the academy graduate. The 20-year-old has been a part of the club since nine years of age, and he has already made a telling impact at the club by scoring a goal in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City last summer apart from playing for England in the UEFA European Championship 2024.
I believe in him a lot. He is a top player: Amorim on Mainoo
During one of his recent interviews, Ruben Amorim revealed that he didn’t talk to Kobbie Mainoo during the last few days of the summer transfer window, to make him think about holding him back at the club before doing it earlier this month. He also remarked, “I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better.”
“For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it's not fair, but I think I'm helping Kobbie and that's it,” Ruben Amorim added.
