Why Gallagher instead of Napoli's McTominay should replace Mainoo at Man Utd

Though transfers in the early part of the new year are rarely as big as those conducted in the summer, sales during the winter window are getting incrementally bigger as the years go on.

Mainoo could leave Man Utd

Manchester United, for example, are already thought to be preparing the way for Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club, either on loan or permanently, this winter or next summer. He may not be the only departure or arrival for the Red Devils as Ruben Amorim looks to build on his side's current sixth place.

The Portuguese has certainly endured a rough time as manager of the club since joining just over a year ago. However, the green shoots of recovery have been seen in 2025/26, and as a result, there's nothing to suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe or his board will want to relieve Amorim of his duties anytime soon.

To that end, one should expect the manager to be backed in the transfer market, and with Mainoo, just like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, seemingly not part of his plans, a move elsewhere for the midfielder seems a foregone conclusion, at least eventually.

Assuming that the 20-year-old does indeed find a new home soon, United need a replacement, with both Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher and former Red Devil, Scott McTominay, already being linked.

Ten Hag didn't fancy McTominay

Though an association with McTominay may at first seem a little counter-productive, one has to remember that it was the previous manager, Erik ten Hag, who believed the Serie A player of the year last season was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman's opinion has clearly been shot down in flames after the 29-year-old was allowed to spread his wings and quickly showed his match-winning capabilities.

In fact, one could even argue that they were on show before his services were dispensed with in the red half of Manchester, but it was just a shame that Ten Hag couldn't see it - perhaps in the same way that Amorim doesn't see Mainoo's evident qualities.

So far in 2025/26, McTominay has two goals and three assists for Napoli in the Italian top-flight, as well as three goals and an assist in the Champions League.

Big fee needed to get Napoli to negotiate

It can't be overlooked that he was also a major reason why Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and his overhead kick against Denmark will be replayed for years to come.

More than his attacking attributes, it's the will to win and desire that McTominay brings to the Napoli midfield which sets him apart from his contemporaries.

62 ball recoveries, 12 interceptions and 16 headed clearances this season have all contributed to another decent all-round showing from the player, and one might begin to question why on earth the Partnopei would even consider parting with him.

The answer to that could undoubtedly be found in monetary terms. Serie A sides haven't been able to match their Premier League counterparts in terms of transfer spend for a while now, so if United were to make a sizeable offer, Napoli would find it hard to turn down.

Gallagher needs games to further World Cup ambitions

Gallagher is a different case entirely. Though the record books will show he's played 18 matches for Atletico in the current LaLiga campaign, only four of those have been as a starter.

His two league goals have been supplemented by one more in the Champions League, and an assist in the Copa del Rey, but that's arguably not the sort of output that both player and club are looking for.

With the Englishman's World Cup ambitions also in mind, it's believed that the 25-year-old has already got the agreement of Diego Simeone and the Rojiblancos board for him to depart in January, as long as the Spaniard's financial demands are met.

Transfer could benefit all parties

It isn't clear what those are at this stage, but given that Gallagher has never really set the Spanish top-flight alight and has been used sparingly by his Argentinian manager, one would expect his value to be below the €42m (£38m) that Atleti paid for him.

Given that's likely to represent significantly better financial sense and longer-term value - Gallagher is four years younger than McTominay - it's difficult to look beyond that transfer being the one which United will pursue as soon as the window is open.

In the same way that McTominay flourished, Mainoo would also hope to improve upon a season that's seen just the one assist from him in the Carabao Cup.

His own apparent desire to move away from the Theatre of Dreams therefore removes any potential barrier to such an arrival occurring, and it may well be that this particular transfer merry-go-round is to the benefit of all parties, if the stats align.