Mainoo offered Man Utd escape route with ex-teammate involved in Napoli

  /  autty

Kobbie Mainoo is frustrated by the lack of game time at Manchester United and Napoli will try once again to sign him in January, having seen a move blocked in September

Napoli are willing to cover all of Kobbie Mainoo's wages in the hope of signing him in the January transfer window. The Italian champions are desperate to lure the Manchester United outcast to Naples as soon as possible.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has told United he is prepared to honour Mainoo's £35,000-a-week contract. De Laurentiis has spoken to Napoli stars Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay about Mainoo - and the duo have told him the England midfielder would be a great signing for Antonio Conte's side.

Napoli tried to sign Mainoo in the summer, but he decided to remain at United when Ruben Amorim told him he wanted to keep him. But Mainoo has remained on the fringes of Amorim's team and has made just eight appearances in all competitions this season.

It's understood Napoli want to take Mainoo on an initial loan, with a view to making the deal permanent in the summer. Mainoo knows he will have to leave Old Trafford to secure regular starts, if he wants to stand a realistic chance of being included in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Napoli have enjoyed success by signing unwanted United players, with McTominay being named the Serie A Player of the Season in their title-winning campaign. Rasmus Hojlund has also made a strong start since joining on loan in the summer, scoring four goals in seven games so far.

Mainoo fits into the same category as a frustrated player who is seeking regular game time. Coming into this weekend, the 20-year-old United academy graduate had started just one game for United this season, and that came in their disastrous defeat by Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.

He has been stuck as a substitute in the Premier League, with Amorim picking Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in central midfield. Mainoo's exit was blocked on deadline day, with Amorim explaining in September what he expects from the youngster.

"I didn't have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn't want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him," he said. "I did it this week.

"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."

Related: Manchester United Napoli Amorim Conte Bruno Fernandes McTominay Mainoo
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