Koby Mainu has not started a single Premier League game this season, increasing speculation about his future at Manchester United ahead of the January transfer window.
Koby Mainu is considering leaving Manchester United permanently for the first time, a new report claims. Mainu, 20, is unhappy with his lack of game time under coach Ruben Amorim.
The midfielder’s only start of the season came in United’s humiliating Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town in August. Mainu pushed for a loan move from his boyhood club towards the end of the summer transfer window, but the Red Devils had no intention of letting him go.
Amorim was due to start for Mainu against United at Aston Villa last Sunday before he was injured in training. He also missed Friday’s hard-fought 1-0 home win against Newcastle due to a calf problem.
With just days left until the start of January, it has emerged that Mainu is considering leaving the club again, but this time it will not be on loan. The i Paper reports that sources close to the 10-time England international say the player is looking to leave the club permanently, with a number of clubs across Europe expressing interest.
Napoli may be one of them. Former Old Trafford team-mates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hjølund have reignited their careers at Napoli, with Maynou tipped to be next in line.
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However, United will only accept huge offers and lack depth in midfield. Bruno Fernandes is currently out injured and Casemiro has only played 90 minutes in three games for United this season.
If the Red Devils are unable to sign top midfield targets Elliott Anderson, Carlos Bareva or Adam Wharton, selling Maynou would leave Amorim with only Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte as back-ups to Fernandes and Casemiro. Ugarte has started United’s last two games, while Mount was injured on Boxing Day.
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Ahead of the win against Newcastle, Amorim said Maynou was the club’s “future” and appeared to rule out the possibility of him leaving in January. “That’s how I feel,” said the Red Devils manager. “He just has to wait for his chance and in two days everything can change in football.”
Amorim continued: “If you can’t get someone, it’s difficult for someone to leave the team. Even if we had a full squad, we’re short (in terms of players) for anything that could happen here, so if we can’t get a replacement, it would be difficult for someone to leave the club.”
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