General view outside the stadium as fans arrive before the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s highly-rated young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has become a key player in the rumor mill due to a lack of consistent playing time at Old Trafford.
Major European clubs, including Chelsea, are closely monitoring his situation.
Mainoo is reportedly keen to gain more playing time to boost his chances of making England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. He is actively looking for a new challenge to accelerate his development.
Kobbie Mainoo prefers Napoli
Even if at least 12 clubs are said to be in the running, sources close to the matter have informed Caught Offside that Chelsea and Bayern Munich “lead the hunt”. However, the player’s personal preference list still puts Napoli at the top. Mainoo is prioritizing spots where he can be a guaranteed starter as he plots his next move.
Scott McTominay has done quite well at Napoli, leaving Manchester United, and the 20-year-old midfielder is looking to follow in his footsteps. Naples will be able to offer him regular opportunities and he will be able to work with a world-class manager like Antonio Conte at the Italian club.
Mainoo is a promising player with a bright future, and he could become a key player for Napoli with the right guidance. It will be interesting to see if the Italian club can complete the deal.
Chelsea could use Mainoo
Meanwhile, Chelsea are among the clubs leading the race to sign the player. They need more control in the middle of the park. The Manchester United player is well established in English football and he could make an immediate impact. He could complement Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. The youngster has the quality to complement his midfield for the foreseeable future.
It will be interesting to see if they can convince Manchester United to sell. They are looking to build a formidable team for the future, and the England International midfielder could be the final piece of the puzzle for them.
