Paul Scholes urges Man Utd ‘superstar’ to hitch Chelsea in huge transfer | Football

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have tipped Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo for a sensational transfer to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Mainoo continues to be waiting to make his first start within the Premier League this season, having slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford since Ruben Amorim’s appointment last November.

The 20-year-old was viewed as one of the promising players at not only United but within the Premier League after his breakthrough season under Erik ten Hag.

Mainoo’s form under the Dutchman led to him being included in England’s squad for Euro 2024 and the then-teenager even began the ultimate defeat to Spain.

After seeing his game-time dry up last season, Mainoo asked to go away Manchester United on loan last summer but was told by Old Trafford bosses he can be staying put.

Mainoo is desperate for a move away from United in January, nevertheless, as he continues to be ignored by Amorim, who appears to have major reservations concerning the England international.

Napoli have expressed interest in signing Mainoo but Old Trafford legends Scholes and Butt consider he could find yourself at Chelsea.

Chelsea were linked with Mainoo last 12 months and have signed numerous young, talented players within the Todd Boehly era, including Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes said: ‘Ruben Amorim has said Kobbie Mainoo is a starter… every appearance he’s made within the Premier League has been as a sub. Things like that wind me up.

‘I wouldn’t mind if he was in a very good team and so they were winning every week and keeping possession but they’re rubbish.

‘Kobbie is a 20-year-old kid and he’s not playing, he’s going to have to go away. Do you understand what is going to occur now? Amorim will bring him right into a game and he won’t be great but that’s because he needs regular games.

‘Fair enough, as a manger sometimes you simply don’t fancy a player. But take a look at what he’s already done – scored the winner in an FA Cup final, played every game within the Euros.

‘I bet he takes the p*** out of Casemiro each day in training and is sensible. I don’t know why the club are letting Amorim treat a homegrown talent like that.’

Scholes’ former United teammate Butt described Mainoo’s struggles as an ‘absolute joke’ and predicted Chelsea would launch a move for the frustrated midfielder.

‘The Kobbie one is an absolute joke,’ Butt said. ‘I went to the West Ham game [a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford] and it was an absolute s***show. It was a terrible, boring game.

‘The player to bring on to alter the sport, in my view, was Kobbie Mainoo – but he didn’t get on the pitch. He’ll be one other homegrown player who leaves and is a superstar some other place.

‘If Mainoo was playing for one more Premier League club, United go and buy him for £70m or £80m. Now we’re going to sell him and he’ll be a superstar elsewhere like McTominay, Elanga, Henderson – we will mention a great deal of them.

‘We’re eliminating players who love the football club, it’s mind-boggling. I get the Garnacho one because his attitude and behavior was terrible but you don’t hear that about Kobbie.

‘He’s a top, top, top player that we’re f****** up. Kobbie has got to go. If I’m taking care of him I’m telling him “we’re getting you out of that football club”.

‘For his football profession he has to leave United, he’s lost 18 months of development. I hope he goes abroad because it’s embarrassing if he goes to Chelsea, which could occur.

‘They could go and get him because they’re putting together a excellent, young squad and keep buying young players. He could quite easily find yourself at Chelsea next season.

‘I’ve known Kobbie since he was eight but you wouldn’t be doing him justice if you happen to told him to remain and never to take that move. That’s such a tragic thing for me to say.’

Scholes also said Chelsea could possibly be a very good landing spot for Mainoo, who has made 83 appearances for his boyhood club.

‘Do you understand what? You’d should advise him to go [to Chelsea], wouldn’t you?’ Scholes admitted.

‘If he rang me and said “look, Chelsea have an interest, what do you think that?” I’d say go all day long.’

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