INEOS make enquiry to sign Man Utd’s new Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo’s World Cup hopes weren’t exactly strengthened in midweek, amid his role in Japan’s opener at Wembley, although from a Manchester United perspective, it’s been a fine start to 2026 for the young midfielder.

For the 20-year-old to even be in the conversation again for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s ranks is a testament not only to him but also to interim head coach, Michael Carrick, having previously been given the cold shoulder by Ruben Amorim.

Prior to the Manchester derby in January, Mainoo hadn’t started a single Premier League game in 2025/26 during Amorim’s tenure, after largely fading from view for much of 2025 in general.

Now front and centre again as a central part of Carrick’s resurgent side, the Carrington graduate remains the type of figure United and INEOS need to build around. More signings of his ilk should well be the priority this summer

Man Utd lodge enquiry over signing teen sensation

Regardless of Mainoo’s rise of late, the priority this summer remains the capture of a new central midfielder, amid the impending exit of Casemiro.

Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson are the leading targets right now by all accounts, although neither man is likely to come cheap, with club-record price tags having been mooted.

Equally too, there is also the concern over finding a suitable successor to the long-serving Luke Shaw at left-back, with an obvious deputy for the Englishman currently lacking.

In need of a new full-back and midfielder, why don’t INEOS target a player who can do both? Well, according to journalist Ben Jacobs – speaking to the United Stand – they have done just that, following the latest on the club’s interest in Arsenal starlet, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

As per Jacobs, INEOS have made an informal enquiry ahead of a possible move for the versatile 19-year-old, with the youngster open to exploring a summer switch amid his reduced game time at the Emirates.

The only sticking point is that United will have to get Lewis-Skelly firmly onside before approaching the Gunners, in order to ensure that the north Londoners are willing to negotiate.

Why Lewis-Skelly could be another Mainoo at Man Utd

2023/24 was Mainoo’s breakout year, having only made his first Premier League start in the November, before earning a first senior call-up in the March, prior to playing a prominent role at Euro 2024.

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His subsequent slump in the following campaign, albeit while hampered by injury, saw Lewis-Skelly emerge as England’s newest rising star, with the Hale End graduate having made his Gunners debut in September 2024 against Manchester City.

Like Mainoo, by March 2025 he was already in the Three Lions’ senior set-up, making his international debut against Albania to cap a stunning ascent for the midfielder-turned-left-back.

Much like his compatriot in Manchester, Lewis-Skelly was very much Arsenal’s golden boy, seemingly meeting every challenge head on, including the prospect of facing the likes of Real Madrid in the Champions League.

It was that April tie, both home and away, that truly cemented the London-born starlet as a real sensation, with pundit Jamie Carragher hailing him as “one of the best players” in Arteta’s side, while suggesting that he had a “little bit of Jude Bellingham” about him, due to that “football arrogance” at such a young age.

In a similar vein to Mainoo in 2023/24, there seemed to be no stopping Lewis-Skelly’s rise, although again, like the midfielder, there has been a case of second-season syndrome.

In Mainoo’s case, his face seemingly didn’t fit in the Amorim regime, although Lewis-Skelly’s own demise is perhaps more surprising, with Arteta having repeatedly overlooked him this season.

The two-cap England international has started just 12 games in all competitions in 2025/26, slumping to third-choice in the left-back department behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie.

As he showcased last season, most notably against Bellingham’s Madrid, his talent is not in question, with the left-footer such an asset considering he can comfortably flit between a left-back or central midfield role.

Of course, for Mainoo, the FA Cup hero saw his fortunes altered following the change in the dugout at Old Trafford, yet for Lewis-Skelly, it may take a change of team for a revival to be enjoyed.

Why not make Manchester his new home for next season?

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