Kobbie Mainoo favoured a loan move to Napoli this summer after signalling a desire to leave Manchester United, sources reported, though his preference could shift if Real Madrid enter the market. Having logged just 190 minutes for United this season, Mainoo is expected to renew his push for a temporary exit in January.

Napoli remained interested in the England international and were reported to have been his first-choice destination during the summer window. A move to the Serie A champions would offer Mainoo the opportunity to rejoin former United teammates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, both of whom have found more playing time away from Old Trafford.

Mainoo’s prospective availability has attracted wider attention, with Real Madrid among clubs tipped to consider a bid should he be made available. Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is understood to be seeking a deep-lying midfielder after the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić over the past year. While high-profile names such as Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Rodri are seen as ideal targets, there is recognition that a more pragmatic signing may be necessary.

Atlético Madrid have also been mentioned as potential suitors, a scenario that connects to Conor Gallagher. United made a Deadline Day approach for Gallagher but were unsuccessful; the midfielder remains linked with a move away from the Metropolitano after falling down the pecking order. There have been no signs that a swap involving Mainoo has been contemplated.

Reports indicate that interest in Gallagher during the summer was not directly tied to Mainoo’s situation. United had prioritized a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba but withdrew once informed of a reported £100 million price tag. The club is likely to renew their pursuit of Baleba in 2026, a development that could influence how United handle Mainoo going forward.

Manchester United have emerged as a leading suitor for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, with sources describing the club as “at the forefront” of those exploring a January move. Competition remains from both English and European rivals, with Chelsea also credited with interest.

Vlahović stayed at Juve after rejecting offers over the summer, but Gazzetta dello Sport reports he has been made available for sale in 2026. The striker is understood to be Juve’s No. 9 and is thought to be Serie A’s highest-paid player, on an annual salary of €12 million (£10.5 million, $14.1 million).

With his contract running toward expiry in June, Juventus have lowered their price expectations. There is talk that a fee in the region of €10–15 million could be acceptable in January, given the alternative of allowing him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Offloading six months of Vlahović’s wages would also be seen as a significant financial relief for the club.

United invested in excess of €230 million during the summer window on a revamped frontline, the centre piece being Benjamin Šeško. Despite that expenditure, Ruben Amorim’s ailing outfit have scarcely enjoyed a considerable uplift in results, even if the underlying attacking numbers offer more encouragement.

Juventus strengthened their forward ranks by signing Loïs Openda and Jonathan David over the summer, leaving them with a surplus of strikers. That recruitment could force Juve to retain Vlahović until his contract expires.

Abroad, Bayern Munich are reportedly considering Vlahović as an affordable target next summer, according to BILD. The Bavarian club’s interest is linked to wider speculation over Harry Kane, who has been repeatedly connected with an exit in 2026 and is expected to be available for €65 million because of a clause in his contract.

The coming months are likely to test Juventus’ willingness to accept a reduced fee and United’s appetite to add another forward to a frontline already heavily bolstered in the summer.

Bryan Mbeumo has pushed back on the notion that Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup is the root cause of Manchester United’s early issues. Signed this summer to help United adapt to the new arrangement after operating both as a striker and a winger in a similar role at Brentford, Mbeumo urged focus on the squad’s response rather than the system itself.

“It’s a little different for me,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve played this system in the past as well.” Mbeumo argued that external criticism should not distract the players from finding positives and fixing details on the pitch.

His remarks follow similar comments from defender Matthijs de Ligt, who has asked team-mates to shoulder more responsibility for results instead of directing blame at Amorim. Mbeumo expanded on that position, emphasising collective accountability.

“I think everyone in the team needs to take responsibility,” Mbeumo continued. “When you play in a club this big, everyone needs to know what to do. As a team, we need to do better.” The forward made clear he sees the issues as fixable and linked to the squad adapting to each other rather than a fundamental flaw in tactical shape.

Despite the turbulence surrounding the club’s start, Mbeumo said his early months at Old Trafford have been positive. He highlighted the challenge of building combinations with new team-mates and expressed confidence in improvement as players grow accustomed to each other.

“It’s exciting, because we get to learn to play with new players and it’s always challenging, but that’s what we like as footballers,” he added. “Of course it will improve, we haven’t played a lot together, so there are certain things that we’re going to improve, and there are different types of players, but it’s good to be with them.”