Napoli is gearing up to challenge Manchester United with a renewed bid for Kobbie Mainoo this January.

Antonio Conte seems to have discovered a successful strategy by giving sidelined players at Old Trafford a chance to rejuvenate their careers in southern Italy.

Following the career revivals of Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, Napoli is reportedly set to make another attempt to acquire Mainoo, a 20-year-old talent they eyed during the summer, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.

Mainoo once appeared destined to be a central figure in Manchester United’s midfield lineup for the long haul and had even made a promising impression on the international stage with England at last year’s Euros.

However, under the management of Ruben Amorim this season, Mainoo has seen limited action, mostly coming off the bench and accruing just 138 minutes of playtime in the Premier League.

Kobbie Mainoo is out of favour under Rub en Amorim and Napoli are interested in him

Scott McTominay, pictured with girlfriend Cam Redding, is worshipped at the Italian club

The three minutes off the bench against Chelsea and five in the win over Liverpool have had many fans scratching their heads and Mainoo could look to move elsewhere. 

Mainoo asked to leave on loan late in the summer window after struggling for opportunities but his request was blocked. 

Conte wants to rebuild Napoli’s midfield and the club view the situation as an ’emergency’, according to Gazzetta. 

Kevin de Bruyne, 34, is facing months out after suffering a serious thigh tear after taking a penalty in the win over Inter Milan at the weekend. 

Stanislav Lobotka is an integral part of Napoli’s recent success but has also been plagued by injury problems and is currently on the treatment table. 

And Conte will lose Frank Zambo Anguissa to AFCON later this year when he joins up with Cameroon. 

Lobotka and Anguissa are both 29 and Napoli are aiming to refresh the age profile in midfield as they plan for the future. 

Former Chelsea man Billy Gilmour, 24, remains at the club and has increased in importance in recent weeks with the injuries to key men paving the way for more starts.

And Mainoo could join the crop of former Premier League players lapping up the Neapolitan sun. McTominay was the Serie A Player of the Year after spearheading the title charge last season, while Hojlund is regaining confidence lost at Old Trafford, scoring four goals in his first seven games having joined on loan with a £34m option to make it permanent next year. 

Rasmus Hojlund, pictured with girlfriend Laura Rhod Sondergaard, is another Man United player who has made a strong start to life in Naples 

Mainoo has predominantly been used as a substitute by Amorim this season 

It would be painful for Man United fans to see Mainoo depart, with Rio Ferdinand recently telling the Manchester Evening News while promoting Talking Futures’ Half Time Talks initiative: ‘I do not want Kobbie Mainoo putting on any other shirt other than England’s or Man United’s, simple as.’

‘If he was agitating to get a loan now, if he is not playing in January, he will be agitating and knocking the door down even more to go and get game time. 

‘He has had a taste of a tournament with England and came out of it with absolutely flying colours, and he will want a taste of that again.’

He added: ‘If you are thinking long-term for Manchester United, I think Manchester United have to find a way of getting this kid in the team, he is a huge talent. 

‘Is there another way to get him in the team, what does he need to do, that is the big thing for me.’

A fresh start in Naples transformed McTominay into last season’s Serie A player of the year

Amorim has been equally forthright about where Mainoo stands, and why selection has not been automatic. The head coach told reporters in September that Mainoo is competing with captain Bruno Fernandes in midfield, while stressing that standards have shifted under his stewardship. 

‘The way I play is completely different from the last manager,’ Amorim said, explaining that United now have other players who can ‘calm down the game’ in key moments.

He also set out the areas for improvement he expects from the 20-year-old, saying: ‘I think he needs to have the technical ability that he has, but he needs more pace. 

‘He needs to understand the position better, he needs to play in different speeds, sometimes it is lower, sometimes it is faster, and I think he can improve on that.’ 

Asked whether he sympathised with Mainoo’s frustrations, Amorim reflected that the issue was inevitable at a club of United’s size. He stressed that squad depth must be maintained through a congested campaign.

Mainoo wanted to leave Man United on loan in the summer but his attempts were blocked

‘No, like a lot of guys, he wants to play more,’ Amorim said when pressed on Mainoo’s situation before the Manchester derby earlier this season. ‘I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed – I did this week.

‘Because I don’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having any conversation with him just to hold on to him. 

‘I don’t want that feeling. I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done (the finished article). I think he can do so much better, he can improve a lot.

‘I think for some guys it is enough (their talent), but for him it is not enough. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie Mainoo, and that’s it. He will have opportunities like the other guys.’