Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid have begun weighing up a surprise January approach for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, according to reports from CaughtOffside.
The England international, who also has Ghanaian heritage, has endured a difficult start to the campaign at Old Trafford. Four games into the Premier League season, the midfielder has managed only a single appearance, slipping behind rivals in Erik ten Hag’s pecking order.
Mainoo had sought a temporary move away in the summer to secure regular minutes, but United stood firm, rejecting all advances and insisting the 20-year-old fight for his place.
Man United shut door on Mainoo exit as Amorim draws a line in the sand
Madrid, however, sense an opening. Club officials are believed to have already sounded out the possibility of a winter transfer, with Mainoo understood to be receptive to the idea of a switch to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Still, United are reluctant sellers. The Red Devils value their academy graduate at around £70 million and hold him under contract until 2027, a stance that could turn any negotiations into a protracted affair.
Los Blancos’ pursuit is also likely to hinge on developments within their own squad. A potential exit for Dani Ceballos or injury setbacks in midfield could accelerate their push for reinforcements.
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Mainoo’s rising stock has not gone unnoticed elsewhere in Europe either. Napoli, Bayern Munich, and Lyon are all monitoring his situation closely, keeping alive the possibility of a fierce transfer tug-of-war when the window reopens.
