Napoli identify three January alternatives to Man United’s Mainoo

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo remains a primary January target for Napoli, but according to Gazzetta, the Partenopei are also looking to Lorenzo Pellegrini, Morten Frendrup and Arthur Atta.

Napoli will sign at least one new central midfielder in the winter transfer window, and Manchester United’s Mainoo has long been on the Partenopei’s agenda.

According to Gazzetta, the defending champions would have signed Mainoo last summer if it weren’t for Romelu Lukaku’s injury, which forced Napoli to put all their budget on a new centre-forward, Rasmus Hojlund.

Multiple sources claim that Mainoo wants to leave Old Trafford in January, even on loan, to get more playing time in the second part of the campaign.

As Football Italia reported last week, Roma are also interested in the 20-year-old Manchester United midfielder.

And a Roma player, Pellegrini, is one of Napoli’s potential targets in the middle of the park if they fail to get Mainoo.

The Italian midfielder’s contract at the Olimpico expires in June 2026 and is unlikely to be renewed. Furthermore, according to Gazzetta, Genoa’s Frendrup and Udinese’s Atta are also on Napoli’s radars as alternatives to Mainoo.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, November 19, 2025. Page 23