Napoli sporting Giovanni Manna confirms interest in Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo

Napoli are weighing up a significant move for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, as the club looks to navigate a delicate January transfer window. Speaking to Sportmediaset (relayed by Alfredo Pedullà) ahead of the Partenopei’s clash against Milan, sporting director Giovanni Manna addressed the mounting speculation linking the English midfielder with a move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Manna confirmed that the club is closely monitoring the market, though he stressed the need for a calculated approach. “Regarding Mainoo, I have always said that we must be very reflective and careful in the January market,” Manna stated. “We have to make the right evaluations, wait for news in the next few days, and then see accordingly.”

While the director preached caution, the admission that the club is actively evaluating the situation suggests that Napoli’s interest is concrete.

The potential deal comes at a complicated time for Mainoo at Old Trafford. Despite the 20-year-old not featuring as prominently as expected under new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach is reportedly hesitating to sanction a mid-season departure.

While Mainoo’s game time has been limited, Amorim is said to be wary of thinning his squad further, creating a tug-of-war between Napoli’s desire to secure a top-tier talent and United’s reluctance to lose one of their prized academy graduates.

For Napoli, the pursuit of Mainoo represents a strategic attempt to bolster a squad that Manna admits is currently “limited” by injuries and the physical demands of a dense fixture list. Whether the Giallorossi can convince United to soften their stance remains to be seen, but the “right evaluations” are officially underway in Naples.