Manchester United Ready To Release Mainoo And Zirkzee, Interests Are Starting To Appear

JAKARTA - Manchester United are preparing to negotiate with Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee ahead of the January 2026 transfer market.

According to ESPN reports, both players are concerned about the lack of playing time under head coach Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo's request to leave Old Trafford on loan was rejected by Manchester United at the end of the summer transfer market.

The 20-year-old has not started in the Premier League so far this season. Mainoo has made 113 minutes in five appearances.

While Zirkzee has yet to start in the league and has only played 74 minutes in three appearances.

After failing to enter the England National Team (Timnas) squad for international matches in September and October 2025, Mainoo - who started when the England national team lost to Spain at Euro 2024 - worried he was running out of time to get into Thomas Tuchel's plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Zirkzee also realized that he needed to play more regularly in order to have the opportunity to enter the Dutch national team squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico which starts in June next year.

So far Napoli, who registered interest in Mainoo in August 2025, will be an option if he moves. There are also interest from the Premier League and Bundesliga teams.

Zirkzee has been linked with his return to Serie A. However, any deal for Mainoo or Zirkzee requires a green light from Manchester United.

Although both players find it difficult to get into the starting XI under the atmosphere, they remain key members of every game.

Talks will be held before the January 2026 transfer window if their prospects for regular playing minutes do not improve.

Mainoo's additional burden is an academy record that spans more than 87 years on its shoulders. Manchester United is known to have always had academy players in every squad since October 1937.

In the last match against Sunderland, Mainoo was the only player to qualify and his departure could potentially jeopardize the record.

Ruben Amorim also said that he did not want to let go of Mainoo and break the club's record.

"We want to keep it. The past of Manchester United was built by young players. I don't want to be the one to damage it," said Amorim in September 2025.