Manchester United block moves for two potential January transfer window outgoings Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee – Paper Round
Updated 28/10/2025 at 08:58 GMT
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Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Manchester United, with the club set to prevent Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee from leaving in the January transfer window due to concerns over squad size, especially during the Africa Cup of Nations. There are also reports Jobe Bellingham is not keen on United, who could turn their attentions to an Atletico Madrid midfielder.
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Manchester United plan to block player requests to leave the club in January, The Sun reports, meaning Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are unlikely to be sold in the next transfer window.
Both Mainoo and Zirkzee have been linked with moves away from the Premier League club due to limited game-time under Ruben Amorim, but fears over a squad shortage will see the players stay at Old Trafford.
The Sun adds: "United are due to be without influential forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Amad in December as they will almost certainly be called up by their nations for the Africa Cup of Nations. Full back Noussair Mazraoui is also expected to report for host nation Morocco.
"United rejected midfielder Mainoo’s request to leave the club on loan before the summer transfer window closed yet he is the only one of their five midfield options yet to line up in the league.
"Zirkzee has played 90 minutes across five appearances this term and last started for United in April.
"Amorim does not consider Zirkzee to be an out-and-out striker and he has favoured the strikerless trio of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount in four of United’s nine league matches this term with Zirkzee available."
Jobe says no, but Gallagher?
Jobe Bellingham does not want to move to Manchester United this January after it emerged the club were eyeing a loan move for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, the Mirror reports.
The younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has struggled to break into the Dortmund starting XI this term, although he only joined from Sunderland in the summer – and it could see United pursue another target instead.
The Mirror adds: "Despite his frustrations, it's understood Bellingham would snub a move to United, because Ruben Amorim's men are not in the Champions League. If he was to leave Dortmund, the 20-year-old would want to join a club which can offer him games at the highest level.
"And the news could see United step up their interest in England and Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher.
"Gallagher has not started a game for Diego Simeone's side since September, and knows he needs regular starts to boost his chances of making Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup."
Kane’s wife happy in Germany
Bayern Munich are increasingly certain Harry Kane will remain in Germany beyond next summer with the player’s wife said to be settled in the country, the Daily Mail reports.
A possible Premier League return has been touted for Kane, who has an exit clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for £56.7m in the summer, but Bayern are confident he will stay.
The Mail adds: "The family are said to enjoy a far greater degree of privacy in Munich than they had in England, where constant attention limited their movements even with private security.
"The Kanes' relaxed life in Bavaria has given Bayern a major advantage as speculation persists over a return to the Premier League.
"Kane, who remains 47 goals shy of Alan Shearer's all-time record of 260, has long been linked with a final spell in England to chase that milestone.
"But in Munich, the former Tottenham striker is in the form of his career. He has scored 20 goals in 13 matches this season and 105 in 109 games since joining in 2023."
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