“Rice Who?! Man Utd’s Jaw-Dropping Swap Deal for Newcastle’s Sensational Star Will Leave Scholes Speechless!”
Newcastle United eye Kobbie Mainoo transfer — could a smart swap deal benefit Manchester United?
Manchester United have succeeded in offloading most of the players they intended to this summer, leaving new manager Ruben Amorim in the fine-tuning phase of his squad rebuild.
However, one issue still troubling the Portuguese coach is the future of promising midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle United are monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation, with the player reportedly frustrated over his limited game time.
Despite Amorim’s admiration for Mainoo’s potential, he has admitted there are still areas in the youngster’s game that require development.
Unfortunately, Mainoo’s lack of regular minutes could hinder his progress and diminish his chances of featuring in the next World Cup.
If Newcastle were to make an official move, United could consider a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali, a player who might seamlessly fit into Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 setup.
Tonali has been described as a modern-day Michael Carrick—an intelligent, unflashy midfielder who enhances those around him by maintaining control and balance in possession.
While losing an academy product like Mainoo would hurt, United might strengthen their first team through such an exchange.
Former United legend Paul Scholes, speaking on The Overlap, praised Tonali’s qualities, comparing him favorably to other top Premier League midfielders: “I love Tonali.
He’s brilliant—very good. People might mention Declan Rice, but I think Tonali is better.”
As for Mainoo, his frustration is understandable. Just a year ago, he was hailed as one of United’s brightest prospects, with several club icons predicting a huge future for him.
Scholes even claimed after the 2024 FA Cup final that Mainoo was “ten times the player I was at 19,” praising his composure, awareness, and ability to score in big matches.
Veteran midfielder Casemiro has echoed those sentiments, saying Mainoo has “everything to be a complete player” and that United “have a great midfielder for the next 15 years” if he maintains his work ethic and attitude.
Whether Amorim can find room for Mainoo in his system—or whether Newcastle can tempt him away—remains one of the key storylines heading into the next transfer window.
