Leeds can embarrass Man United with stunning January transfer amid huge update from Old Trafford
Leeds United could be about to leave Manchester United with egg on their faces in the January transfer window.
The pair of bitter rivals do not get on by any means, and the West Yorkshire outfit could be about to raid Old Trafford in the transfer market this winter.
Daniel Farke is already under pressure at Leeds after a mixed start to the season, and it has quickly become clear that they need to strengthen their squad further in January if they are to beat the drop.
The Whites will have plenty of players on their radar ahead of the upcoming window, but there is one particular target who would spark joy at Elland Road if he was brought in.
Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave Manchester United in January
Leeds were heavily linked with a move for Kobbie Mainoo during the summer transfer window, but they ultimately couldn’t get a deal over the line.
The United youngster was pushing for a loan move for several weeks, before the Old Trafford outfit eventually decided to stand in the way of any potential exit.
The 2025-26 season has since gone as expected for the young midfielder so far, as he has failed to start a single game in the Premier League as of right now.
- Mainoo only made his Premier League debut back in November 2023
- He featured in six of England’s games in their run to the Euro 2024 final
- He has played just 138 minutes of Premier League football in 2025-26
Mainoo is clearly not fancied by Ruben Amorim, and as a result, he is likely to push for an exit once again in January, according to CaughtOffside.
It is understood that the 20-year-old is “highly unlikely” to back down on his stance regarding a move, and that could see a major battle play out for his signature.
A whole host of Premier League sides are interested in the England international, including the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Leeds, while there is also interest from abroad in the form of Napoli.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are also thought to be keen on Mainoo, who has enjoyed a rapid rise with the Red Devils in recent years.
- Read More: Dan James and the others to have joined Leeds from Man United amid bombshell Kobbie Mainoo news
Leeds deal may be attractive for Man United
Mainoo is an ambitious target for Leeds, given the lofty praise that he has received during his emergence at in Manchester.
However, there is a realistic way that the Whites may be able to trump the impressive list of clubs that are queuing up for the midfielder’s signature, but it all depends on the level to which their rivals are willing to soften their stance.
Manchester United were adamant that Mainoo wouldn’t leave in the summer, but they could hand Leeds a serious advantage in the race if they were happy to sanction a loan exit.
The majority of the rest of the competition would surely be targeting a big-money, permanent move for the starlet, but that would likely be beyond their capability anyway.
If Leeds could get their hands on one of United’s most promising young talents, and quickly make him a key player for them, it would certainly hand a great deal of embarrassment to their rivals for their misuse of him.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Leeds United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @motleedsnews