Kobbie Mainoo sends clear summer transfer message to Man United as he tells them who to sign

Manchester United’s summer transfer window now has clarity thanks to Kobbie Mainoo’s rise to prominence.

Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a breakout year at Manchester United (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

In the highly competitive position of center midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is already considered a lock to start for Manchester United.

Neglect the fact that there is a Brazilian international player with five Champions League medals in his trophy collection. Or an international player from Denmark who has nearly 130 caps. Or even the captain of the team, a patron saint during yet another trying season.

In the center of United’s engine room right now, it’s not Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, or even Bruno Fernandes. It’s Mainoo, eighteen.

For the final eight (possibly nine) games of the season, Mainoo plus one additional player will be Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup. Right now, Casemiro is the preferred partner, and the two have developed a partnership that sort of works in the middle of the park. Mainoo’s quick feet, skill with the ball, and sheer verve complement the Brazilian’s defensive acumen and experience.

For the Stockport boy, the ascent to fame has been supersonic. Not only has he established himself in the United starting lineup, but despite only making his debut as a late substitute against Brazil last month, he appears almost certain to be included in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.

Who to pair Mainoo with for the upcoming season is United’s conundrum. Casemiro, who is 32 years old and a waning force, is the obvious choice to partner the young player right now. Neither his overall fitness record nor his legs are what they once were. If a suitable match is found, he might leave this summer.

Eriksen, another Ten Hag acquisition whose flame burned brightly but too soon, is also expected to leave Old Trafford this summer. While Scott McTominay’s once faltering United career has been spectacularly revived this season to the extent that a new contract may be due, he will undoubtedly still be seen more as a squad player than a consistent starter in the center of midfield if Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to realise his aim of chasing down Man City & Co. Fernandes, meanwhile, will continue to be the inspiration, but more likely in an advanced position.

This summer, United will need a dominant central midfielder, and Mainoo has already disclosed who his dream partner would be. The young player was asked which former United player he would most like to play alongside in a Q&A with mufc.com.

It should come as no surprise that legend Paul Scholes is his response. Their style of play, ball manipulation, and goal-scoring ability are somewhat similar. Scholes is third on the list of all-time appearances and has 11 Premier League titles to his credit.

He answered, “I’d say Paul Scholes,” to the query. “But between the two of us, there might not be much defending! However, Scholes, yeah. Absolutely, Scholes.

“[Due to] every circumstance. His departure, his gait, his ability to close. His knowledge. He was a fantastic player, indeed.

Although Mainoo is correct that there might not be much defensive work if the two of them were partnered in central midfield, someone like Scholes may not seem like the ideal partner for him on the surface. Scholes was undoubtedly an offensive force in his early career, arriving at the box late and scoring some incredible goals.

However, Scholes was more comfortable playing a deep-lying playmaker role in the second half of his United career, which suited his exceptional passing ability and ability to control the game’s pace. Scholes was the best player in the Premier League at setting the pace of a game and had the range of passing that made him known as “SatNav.”

Even though Scholes was never good at tackling—as evidenced by his 97 yellow cards and Arsene Wenger’s criticism of him for being “dirty”—he knew how to get in there, break up attacks, and then set up a counterattack for United.

These are the qualities that United’s center of midfield currently lacks. None of the midfield players provide much control, and Casemiro in particular gives up possession far too frequently. This season in the Premier League, his pass completion percentage is a pitiful 82%. United ranks lower than teams like Fulham and Newcastle in the league with the 10th-best possession statistics.

Therefore, even though Scholes and Mainoo’s partnership might not have the same defensive strength, it would still be able to hold the ball, aid United in controlling games, and pose an offensive threat. Although players like Rodri and Declan Rice are frequently regarded as the best defensive midfielders, their skill with the ball, ability to manipulate it in tight situations, and ability to spur their teams on from those areas should not be undervalued. This season, Rodri has a 92% pass completion percentage, while Rice has a 91% completion percentage.

In his later years, Paul Scholes would stroll into this United midfield. Finding someone comparable this summer might still be Kobbie Mainoo’s ideal companion.