Why Kevin De Bruyne could stop West Ham move to sign Manchester United star
West Ham are interested in a move for wantaway Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in January.
It looks set to be a busy winter transfer window at the London Stadium, with West Ham looking to sign three players.
Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate for reinforcements, with the former Tottenham boss attempting to lead the Hammers away from the relegation zone.
West Ham beat Newcastle United 3-1 last week, with Lucas Paqueta scoring before Sven Botman was forced into an own goal, and Tomas Soucek put the final touches on a first win since August.
It was three points that relieved the pressure somewhat, but West Ham now face a brutal run of Premier League fixtures after Burnley, towards the end of the year.
Fabrizio Romano offers Kobbie Mainoo update
Freddie Potts was superb against Newcastle, with the midfielder looking like a breath of fresh air in the West Ham midfield.
Fans at the London Stadium have often been forced to watch the likes of Guido Rodriguez and Soucek in midfield over the past seasons, so a younger, energetic presence at the base has prompted huge excitement.
There would be a similar feeling around the potential arrival of Mainoo, who, according to Fabrizio Romano, is a loan target for West Ham in January.
Speaking on the Here We Go podcast on Wednesday, the transfer guru explained that the Hammers are offering guaranteed minutes to the England international, who is yet to start a Premier League game for Manchester United this season.
Romano also confirmed that Serie A champions Napoli are interested in Mainoo; however, the Italian giants are looking for midfield cover after Kevin De Bruyne underwent surgery on a hamstring injury.
Michail Antonio lauded Mainoo after Manchester United breakthrough
Mainoo made his breakthrough at Manchester United in the 2023-24 season, emerging among the Red Devils’ most important players, despite being just 18 at the time.
His performances would earn him a call-up to England’s squad for the 2024 European Championship, where he would feature throughout, starting in the final against Spain.
Speaking to the Footballer’s Football Podcast in 2024, former West Ham striker Michail Antonio said: “I’ve seen a couple of games he’s been playing in and he’s treating like he’s playing with the youth team or reserves.
| Kobbie Mainoo | Premier League 2024-25 |
| Appearances | 25 |
| Chances created | 14 |
| Successful dribbles | 23 |
| Fouls won | 21 |
| Tackles | 46 |
| Duels won | 109 |
“He’s controlling the tempo, he has so much confidence, he just believes in everything he’s doing.
“He’s playing like he’s had years in the game, full of confidence, and that’s difficult for youngsters coming through. Normally, you see a bit of nerves in them.“
West Ham will hope that the prospect of regular Premier League football will be the deciding factor for Mainoo, who will be hoping to return to regular action ahead of next year’s World Cup.
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