Napoli are preparing to make a major move in the January transfer window, with Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo emerging as their number one target to strengthen the midfield, according to Calciomercato.
The Serie A champions are facing a growing crisis in the center of the park, with Kevin De Bruyne, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour all sidelined due to injury, leaving head coach Antonio Conte short of options as the team looks to reignite their domestic and European campaigns.
The 20-year-old Mainoo has been one of Man United’s top young talents to come out of their academy.
Kobbie Mainoo is wanted by Napoli
Napoli, known for their keen eye in identifying and developing young talent, believe Mainoo could be the perfect addition to fill the void in midfield and provide a long-term successor to Anguissa’s role as a dynamic box-to-box presence.
Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna has already made preliminary inquiries into Mainoo’s situation. However, any deal will be complicated by United’s reluctance to sell one of their most promising homegrown players.
Manager Ruben Amorim considers Mainoo a crucial part of the club’s rebuild, although the Portuguese manager has kept his minutes limited this season.
While some of these players could be easier to secure financially, Napoli view Mainoo as their “dream signing” due to his technical ability and potential resale value.
Financially, Napoli may need to get creative to pull off the deal.
With the club still adhering to strict spending limits after recent investments, they could propose an initial loan with an obligation to buy or offer performance-based clauses to make the move more appealing to Man United.
A move away from Old Trafford would suit Mainoo at this stage of his career since his playing time is severely limited under Amorim right now and that has had a negative impact on the player’s development.