The summer transfer window may have officially closed, but for a football club, the work of planning and building the squad never truly stops.
For Newcastle United, the recent period of business is widely viewed as a success. The new signings have begun to settle in, with record arrival Nick Woltemade making a dream start by scoring on his debut.
However, the nature of a long and demanding season means that a manager is always looking ahead, and it appears Eddie Howe is already considering how to strengthen his team when the transfer market reopens in January.
This forward-thinking is especially relevant given the early injury issues the team has faced. Two of the club’s major summer signings, striker Yoane Wissa and midfielder Jacob Ramsey, are already sidelined for roughly a month.
These absences have highlighted a particular lack of depth in the center of the park. Beyond the excellent starting trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton, the options become limited to the promising but still-developing Lewis Miley and a Joe Willock who is working to rediscover his best form.
This lack of cover is a concern for a team competing on multiple fronts.
It is against this backdrop that a familiar name has reemerged in the rumor mill. According to reports, Newcastle United continues to monitor the situation of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
The 21-year-old England international has experienced a very strange and frustrating start to the season under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite his obvious talent, Mainoo has found himself on the fringes of the squad, featuring in only three matches across all competitions without a single Premier League start.
His situation became so concerning that, before the summer window closed, he reportedly asked the club for a loan move to secure the regular playing time vital for his development.
That request was denied, leaving the player stuck in a state of limbo. Interestingly, it is not just outsiders who are confused by this; reports suggest that even Mainoo’s own teammates at Manchester United are “perplexed” by the manager’s decision to consistently leave him out.
For Newcastle, this presents a potential opportunity. Manager Eddie Howe is said to be a big admirer of the young midfielder and would reportedly consider making a move in January if his situation remains unchanged.
For Mainoo, a switch to Tyneside could be exactly what his career needs. He would be joining a midfield unit that is considered one of the best in the league, offering him the chance to learn daily from world-class operators like Bruno Guimaraes and the relentless Joelinton.
The environment under Howe, who has a proven track record of improving young players, could be ideal for him.
Furthermore, a move could reignite his international career. Having been a part of the England squad that reached the European Championship final just last year, he was left out of the most recent squad, likely due to his lack of game time at his club.
Regular football at a high level would be essential for forcing his way back into the national team picture.
A player of Mainoo’s profile a composed, deep-lying midfielder who likes to control the tempo of the game would offer Howe a different kind of option in the middle of the field.
While a deal is far from certain, it is a story that makes a lot of sense for all parties involved and is certainly one to watch as the season progresses towards the winter window.
