Manchester City chasing deal for Manchester United midfielder in cross-town switch

Premier League champions Manchester City are eyeing a move for one of Manchester United’s most promising first-team talents, according to a new report.

That interest concerns 18-year-old Stockport-born midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who started his footballing journey with Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club before joining Manchester United at the age of just nine.

The meteoric rise of the player at Manchester United was expected to see him reach the pinnacle of his journey so far, by reaching Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad at the start of the ongoing campaign after featuring in pre-season for the Red Devils.

However, amid uncertainty over whether he truly has a place in the Dutch coach’s plans for the immediate future, a new report has highlighted an interest from Manchester City that could showcase another example of the power-shift witnessed in the city.

That is according to the information of FourFourTwo, who claim that transfer bosses at Manchester City are currently ‘chasing’ Manchester United’s academy star and recent first-team appearance-maker Kobbie Mainoo over a potential cross-town switch.

The report highlights that at present it remains unclear how much Manchester City would have to pay to bring the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium, or whether their United counterparts would even entertain an offer from their city rivals.

Kobbie Mainoo signed his first professional contract with Manchester United back in May 2022, with his performances in midfield earning him a first senior squad call-up for training in the following October.

2023 represented a highlight year and breakthrough moment for the teenager, after Mainoo made his competitive debut for Manchester United in January by starting in a 3-0 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic.

A Premier League debut would then follow a month later, as Kobbie Mainoo started in a 3-0 win over Leicester City, coming on for Erik ten Hag’s side from the substitutes bench.