Napoli aims to sign Manchester United’s rising star this winter! Amoralin refuses to let go, may offer a final chance for redemption

Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Serie A titleholders intend to make a move in January to secure Cody Meno from Manchester United, probably through a loan or loan with an option to buy. This season, the 20-year-old English international has seen minimal minutes at the Red Devils, and Antonio Conte is dealing with a midfield personnel crisis.

Ruben Amoralin has been deploying Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in a 3-4-3 midfield setup. Meno has yet to start a Premier League match this season, featuring only 7 times for a total of 138 minutes, despite nearly a quarter of the league having passed. Meno seeks more game time to fight for a spot on England’s squad for the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Understandably, Meno is unhappy with Amoralin’s usage of him and aims to leave the club in January. Napoli is his preferred destination, as they are struggling with injuries and a lack of midfielders. Veteran De Bruyne, 34, suffered a muscle strain after scoring a penalty against Inter Milan and may be sidelined for months. Stanislav Lobotka is also injured, with Billy Gilmour, formerly of Brighton and Chelsea, stepping in. Additionally, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be absent during the Africa Cup of Nations.

Therefore, Conte has again turned his attention to Manchester United. Over the past two years, he has signed two fringe players from the Red Devils and developed them into key squad members, including McTominay and Højlund. This summer, Conte approached Meno, but Manchester United refused to let him leave. Napoli, however, has not given up and will try again in January.

Meno also has admirers within the Premier League beyond Napoli. Transfer expert David Ornstein confirmed that West Ham United wants to loan both Meno and Zielkze, though the chances of success appear slim. “Ivan Toney is not in West Ham’s plans. They have rumors regarding other players, such as Manchester United’s Meno and Zielkze, but I think the ‘Hammers’ have very little hope of acquiring either. It’s unclear if either will leave Old Trafford.”

Italian transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano is more direct, stating that Manchester United has refused to release Meno and Zielkze. “One player to watch this winter window is Meno,” Romano said. “I’m telling you, both Meno and Zielkze want more playing time, but on the other hand, Manchester United insists on keeping them. Amoralin wants to retain them. Amoralin hopes to keep Meno, who is of interest to Napoli. With De Bruyne injured, Napoli wanted Meno this summer and remains interested.”

Romano added, “West Ham is also interested; they have inquired about loaning Zielkze and Meno for six months. They can offer playing opportunities to help the players prepare for the World Cup. But currently, Manchester United has no intention of entering negotiations.”

It is certain that Manchester United will give Meno and Zielkze some chances during the Africa Cup of Nations, as Cameroonian international Mbemmo, Ivorian Amad Diallo, and Moroccan Mazraoui will be absent, creating vacancies at right winger and right wing-back. Although Meno and Zielkze do not typically play these positions, Amoralin might move Bruno Fernandes back to the number 10 role, giving Meno a chance to compete with Ugarte for a midfield starting spot. Meanwhile, Zielkze could also vie for the number 10 position.

However, if an extreme scenario occurs—such as Cameroon and Ivory Coast being eliminated early from the Africa Cup group stage—Manchester United players would miss only three matches and return to the squad by early January. This would leave limited time for Meno and Zielkze to prove themselves. If they fail to seize the opportunity and United acquires a new midfielder, Meno might still be allowed to leave by the end of January. Forcing them to stay without sufficient playing time could ruin their World Cup chances and completely damage their relationship with the coach.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes stated that Meno is not a direct competitor but hinted that the young player’s work rate is insufficient. “In modern football, you need excellent running ability. When I started, some players ran only 6 to 7 kilometers per game and still performed well. But now, if a player runs less than 9 to 10 kilometers per match, their performance can hardly be considered good,” Bruno said. “I want to face the toughest competition in my position, but I don’t see Cody (Meno) as a true rival because his style differs from mine.”

Bruno continued, “Looking at the stats, you might say I’m better at scoring goals while Cody excels more in dribbling. As players, we have different strengths, but both of us contribute positively to the team. Cody is fully capable of performing well at the highest level, and his presence has helped me become a better player.”