Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly expressed his desire to join Napoli permanently, with Manchester United not ready to let him leave.

According to Darren Lewis, Kobbie Mainoo has told Manchester United of his desire to join Napoli on a permanent move. The Red Devils are aware of the player’s desire to move out of the club for the time being, but they are not prepared to sanction a departure either on loan or permanently.

Manchester United have had a difficult week, following their Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town. Before the game, there were major concerns over the immediate future of Kobbie Mainoo, after Ruben Amorim chose not to use the midfielder in the opening games of the Premier League season.

Amorim came out after the Fulham game and told the press he viewed Mainoo as a backup to Bruno Fernandes. Given the fact that the Portuguese star barely comes off the pitch during games, many saw through the difficulties of Mainoo getting regular minutes in this team.

Mainoo shocked the Manchester United fanbase by handing in a temporary transfer request, where he only wanted to go out on loan, but Manchester United blocked the idea, as per The Athletic. The idea behind the request was to engineer a move somewhere to gain regular minutes in a World Cup year, as Mainoo harbours hopes of making it to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next year.

Fulham were interested in a loan deal, and that may have been a good option for Mainoo to consider in the final days of the window. There were links to Angelo Stiller as an alternative to Mainoo should the midfielder depart, although Manchester United are adamant the player is going nowhere in this window.

Kobbie Mainoo wants a permanent move to Napoli

In another shock delivered by The Mirror’s Darren Lewis, Mainoo has now asked to be transferred to Napoli permanently. The news indicates that Napoli’s reported interest has been true and that Antonio Conte sought the player before the transfer deadline.

Not only are Manchester United sticking by their stance to keep the player, but they are also averse to him joining Napoli owing to the improvements made by Scott McTominay last season. Hence, they are unlikely to sanction any move for the 20-year-old midfielder before the deadline, although there might be some more drama left to experience in this saga in the next few days.