Leeds United have been linked with a move for Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo amid a few midfield injuries at the start of the season. There are suggestions that they could make a late move to sign him on a loan deal before the end of the transfer window.
Mainoo played the entire second half in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday. He didn’t play in their opening two Premier League games, which led to speculation over his immediate future at the club this summer.
The midfielder has asked Manchester United to let him leave on loan, as he is concerned about not playing enough football this season under Ruben Amorim and fears it could jeopardise his place in England’s World Cup squad next year.
Manchester United have ruled out letting him go before the end of the transfer window, and believe that he is still going to be a key player for the club this season, despite his early-season worries.
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Leeds United tipped to sign Kobbie Mainoo
Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson admitted that securing a deal to take Mainoo to Elland Road would be a huge statement from the Whites late in the transfer window.
He admitted the deal would be highly challenging, not only because of the fierce rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United, but also due to the optics of an Old Trafford academy product making the switch to Elland Road.
However, he stressed that he would be a massive upgrade on the options Leeds have and would be a real quality addition to the squad late in the transfer window.
“It would be a statement signing”, Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“There was talk about him signing a new contract, then there was talk of him moving on, and then the word that was coming out was he’s getting his head down, working hard and concentrating on Manchester United.
“I think it would be a difficult deal to do because of the relationship and the feeling between the two clubs. It’s sometimes hard to win over a set of fans. I don’t see it being an easy deal to do.
“Would it be a quality addition? Yes, it would absolutely be a quality addition, but I think there are just too many things that trip this deal up.”
Leeds have other priorities
Mainoo would be a huge coup, but it seems Manchester United have no interest in doing a deal, and he would likely prefer a move away from the Premier League, even if he leaves on loan.
Leeds are focused on bringing in attackers, and improving their forward line remains the biggest priority for the club at this stage of the window.
The Whites do not have the time or the funds to secure a luxury signing like Mainoo, and adding an attacker is their sole focus this late in the transfer window.
This so called “deal” was put to bed as a non starter days ago. The headline is just click-bait and lazy. Also, LUFC do not do “statement signings”,
and, even if Amorim was happy to see him go out on loan, it is almost certain that he would have a dozen choices other than Leeds to choose from.
No way on earth is this happening, pure fantasy. They have abandoned bringing in a No 9. They are considering a loan move or purchase of a creative winger
I wish Robbo would give it a rest. Nobody, but nobody is interested in what he has to say