Napoli increasingly keen for Mainoo deal after De Bruyne injury and AFCON fears

Reports in Italy claim that Napoli are growing increasingly keen on the idea of a January deal for Manchester United outcast Kobbie Mainoo following a serious injury to Kevin De Bruyne, and with fears that Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be unavailable for around a month during the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Napoli were among the clubs who enquired after Mainoo towards the end of the summer transfer window when it became clear that he was falling out of favour under United head coach Ruben Amorim. 

Effectively a quarter of the way through the 2025-26 campaign, Mainoo is still struggling for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford. 

All of his seven appearances in the Premier League this season have come off the bench, and his only start of the season came in United’s FA Cup humiliation against League Two Grimsby Town in August. 

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport (via TMW), Napoli are keen to offer Mainoo a way out of Old Trafford in January, potentially on a straight loan deal. 

The Partenopei have lost De Bruyne until February at the earliest following surgery on his hamstring, and there are concerns that the in-form Anguissa could be unavailable for around a month in December and January due to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. 

That means that Antonio Conte could be left without two of his first-choice starting midfielders for most of January. 

There are some initial concerns surrounding a potential Napoli move for Mainoo, though, specifically over his physical condition, given that he has only played a full 90 minutes once in the last five months and that he would be expected to come in and start if a move to Napoli were to materialise.