West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo will be delighted by the advice Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have given to Kobbie Mainoo.
The Hammers are preparing a busy January transfer window with their Premier League lives on the line.
Some of Manchester United’s outcasts appear to be at the top of Nuno Espirito Santo’s shopping list for West Ham.
West Ham’s January transfer plans were leaked recently with the club said to be ready to back Nuno with at least three signings.
Nuno has asked West Ham to sign him a defender, a midfielder, and a striker as a bare minimum.
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most and why? Who is your dream January signing?
West Ham want Man United star Mainoo
Man United striker Joshua Zirkzee and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo are two top targets for the Hammers according to a number of reliable sources.
England starlet Mainoo has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Jesse Lingard by joining the Irons in the winter window.
Reporter Ben Jacobs recently claimed Nuno wants West Ham to sign Man United’s Mainoo as he eyes a midfielder with ‘real speed across the ground’.
West Ham have settled on a midfield three of Lucas Paqueta, Mateus Fernandes and Freddie Potts of late after an upturn in form and performances.
But Potts struggled in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth while Fernandes was subbed off.
Nuno reportedly specifically wants ‘a number six or an eight who can go box-to-box’ according to Jacobs.
Mainoo fits that bill and is said to be pushing for a loan move to get game time ahead of the World Cup at the end of the season in the hope of earning a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
Man United are earning a reputation as a club where talent is being stifled and suffocated.
Struggling players and outcasts are going elsewhere and flourishing.
West Ham will hope that is the case if they can get hold of Mainoo in January.
Nuno will love what Scholes and Butt have told Mainoo
But given the 20-year-old’s talent, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils let him leave.
West Ham are awaiting Ruben Amorim’s answer on Mainoo after making an official approach about a loan deal.
If Mainoo or Man United are listening to two of their legendary Class of ’92 heroes then it’s great news for the Hammers.
West Ham boss Nuno will love what Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have told Man United star Mainoo.
The pair have heaped praise on the midfielder, insisting he is a top class talent.
Scholes and Butt know what it takes to play in central midfield for Man United and feel Mainoo should be more prominent for the Old Trafford side.
Scholes and Butt believe Mainoo is the kind of player Man United would be looking to sign if he was at another Premier League club.
Confused by Amorim’s treatment of the young star, the duo have offered Mainoo advice that plays right into West Ham’s hands.
Because Scholes and Butt feel Mainoo needs to go out on loan and play in January amid the interest from the Hammers.
The Man United legends say Mainoo is a ‘superstar’ but has ‘stagnated’ under Amorim and needs games elsewhere.
Scholes and Butt tell Mainoo to find a new club
“I am worried about him (Mainoo) because he’s a superstar,” Butt told Sky Sports News.
“He got into the England team at 18/19, was one of the best performers in the Euros for us. He’s come through the Man United Academy from the age of seven, he was there when I was there… I know him as a person, I know him as a young boy, as a young man, I know the talent he has got.
“And the scary thing for me is that if Kobbie Mainoo was playing for Crystal Palace, (to use them as) an example or if he was at any other football club bar Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea where it’s hard to get players out of, then Man United would be in for him in January for £50-60m.
“It’s sad because I know how much he loves football, I know how much he loves the football club. More importantly we all know the talent that he’s got and it is a waste and he’s a player that we could do with.
“For a player of his ilk, he should be going on loan. Either the club want you or you leave. It’s looking like the club don’t see him as one of the starting XI, which I mean is bizarre given some of the players that are playing, so if I was his advisor I’d be saying ‘Look if you don’t get in that starting XI pretty soon you need to be going and get a new club that’s going to value you, going to help your career go forward and get you to the level you should be at and we all know you should be at’.”
Scholes agreed with his former Man United midfield partner and also advised he move on.
Scholes says Mainoo will get frustrated and want out
“That’s probably one of the most disappointing things for me is Kobbie Mainoo not being involved in this Manchester United team,” Scholes said.
“Because we saw how good he was 18 months, two years ago and for some reason it’s not quite happened. The manager doesn’t seem to quite fancy him but we all know the qualities he has.
“But the manager just for some reason is preferring somebody else.
“That’s something he (Mainoo) has to deal with and I think he’s dealt with it quite well at this minute, but at some point he will get frustrated as I am frustrated with watching Manchester United at times as well, especially with Kobbie Mainoo (not playing), homegrown talent and we don’t have many of them anymore.
“We want him in that team and playing well.”
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