Barcelona alert to Man United prodigy’s availability in January amidst Real Madrid interest – report | OneFootball

With the winter transfer market just a stone’s throw away, rumours have begun to float about Barcelona’s potential targets for the window.

Given their financial situation, there is not much expectation in terms of groundbreaking signings with a defender rumoured to be the only possibility being considered.

As relayed by Fichajes now, the Catalans have also opened their eyes to a midfield option from Manchester United, who will likely be available in January for a bargain sum.

The homegrown star

Indeed, the player in question is Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United’s homegrown midfield star, who is seen as one of the team’s brightest prospects.

Despite being known as a highly talented player, the youngster has not quite broken into Ruben Amorim’s plans and all signs point to him leaving the club in January for regular minutes.

The player is on the lookout for a destination where he can accumulate minutes and further his development, and it is no secret that he will prioritise a club that is competing at the very highest level. Barcelona, on that front, appears as a lucrative option.

Barcelona are interested in Kobbie Mainoo. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The Catalans are reportedly among the several clubs eyeing the young midfielder and see him to be a valuable option not only for his maturity on the ball but for his distribution, footballing acumen, and his defensive contributions off the ball.

They see him as an option who can improve the depth of the team in central midfield and thus serve as a rotation option for the long and hectic season ahead.

Barcelona, however, are not alone in his pursuit, as there are reportedly as many as 12 clubs looking to sign him on loan in January.

Notably, Real Madrid are also eyeing his transfer as an interesting opportunity.

It remains to be seen if Barcelona indeed see the midfield to be the department that requires strengthening in January, and with other clubs more desperate for recruitment in that department, it is hard to imagine a world in which Mainoo arrives in Catalonia.

Football, however, is strange, and anything is possible as long as the ball is in the protege’s park.