Everton are reportedly eyeing a double January swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.
Mainoo and Zirkzee are seeking a way out of Old Trafford after failing to get enough game time under Ruben Amorim. Both players have been linked with different clubs across Europe and Everton are eager to try their luck.
According to The I Paper, Everton are looking at January loan options for the United players.
Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee have found limited game time this season. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The report adds that deals for either would be ‘complex and expensive’ and the Red Devils are undecided about whether to let either go. Moreover, Grealish’s decision to join Everton loan could be a big part of the club’s sales pitch to secure high-profile players in the future.
A source told the publication: “He’s [Grealish] the one who has opened doors for Everton and it wouldn’t surprise me if others follow him. The reality is this was always a multiple window strategy to get us where we want to be. If something comes up we’ll be ready to do it but we won’t just invest for the sake of it.”
Grealish is reportedly keen to turn his Everton loan into a permanent deal in 2026 after falling out of favour at Pep Guardiola’s team.
Amorim to make huge decision on Mainoo’s future
Ruben Amorim talks to Kobbie Mainoo during an English Premier League football match . (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)
Ruben Amorim is expected to make a huge decision on the future of Kobbie Mainoo.
The England international is prepared to leave Old Trafford but Amorim believes the 20-year-old is the “future” of the Premier League giants.
He said last week, “Kobbie Mainoo will have the opportunity, he has all the time. He played in different positions – we talked about the position of Casemiro, he can do that. If you play with a three, he can play like we did in the last game with the position of Mason Mount, he can play there. He is going to be the future of Manchester United, that is my feeling, he just needs to wait for his chance and everything can change in football in two days.”
Meanwhile, Zirkzee’s hope of leaving the club this January might have suffered a huge blow with Amorim insisting that United are “short” on numbers and that may make January departures unlikely.
“It’s going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution,” the 40-year-old said.
“We are short. Even with the full squad we are short for something that can happen. We are a club with a big responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues and in [the media’s] heads, in my head, in everybody’s head, we need to win every game. It doesn’t matter. There are no excuses.”
