In a move that would stun the football world, Liverpool's managerial target Ruben Amorim has set his sights on a spectacular opening gambit: prising Manchester United's crown jewel, Kobbie Mainoo, away from Old Trafford.
The Sporting Lisbon boss, who is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, has identified the 18-year-old midfield prodigy as a primary transfer target for his prospective new project on Merseyside.
A Transfer That Would Ignite the North West
The audacious swoop would represent one of the most controversial and direct transfers between the two arch-rivals in recent history. Mainoo's rapid ascent from the United academy to becoming a pivotal first-team star and England international has made him a symbol of the club's future.
Snatching him away would be seen as a major coup for Liverpool and a significant blow to the Red Devils' long-term rebuilding plans under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Amorim's Vision for Mainoo
Amorim, renowned for his dynamic and tactically astute brand of football, is believed to see Mainoo as the perfect engine for his system. The teenager's composure on the ball, defensive intelligence, and ability to drive forward align perfectly with the demands of Amorim's preferred style of play.
This interest signals a clear intent from the potential new Liverpool boss to build his midfield around young, elite British talent, making a statement of intent for the future.
The Staggering Price Tag
Any deal for Mainoo would not come cheap. Given his age, talent, contract status, and immense value to Manchester United, the transfer fee would likely need to be a British record for a teenager, potentially eclipsing the amount paid for players like Phil Foden or Jude Bellingham at a similar age.
United, who hold all the leverage with the player under a long-term contract, are in a strong position to flatly reject any and all advances from their fiercest rivals.
This potential transfer saga is poised to become the defining storyline of the upcoming summer window, a high-stakes battle that could reshape the dynamics of English football's greatest rivalry.
