By Amie Wilson

Copyright manchestereveningnews

There has been a lot of talk over the future of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo over the last few days with his long-term future at Old Trafford remaining unclear. The 20-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim . His one start so far this season came in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss against League Two side Grimsby Town. The midfielder has otherwise been named on the bench for all of United’s Premier League games so far, coming on as a second-half substitute in the last two matches against Burnley and Fulham. His lack of starts comes after the player asked to go out on loan this summer, a request refused by United. It has since emerged that French side OGC Nice were one of the clubs interested in signing him . There is now more talk over his future with eyes starting to turn to the January transfer window. With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest on the midfielder. Newcastle United are the latest team to be linked with an interest in the midfielder ahead of the January transfer window. According to talkSPORT , the club are “keeping tabs” on the England international. Eddie Howe is said to be a huge admirer of the player, with Newcastle considering testing United’s resolve with an offer in January if he doesn’t get more game time for the club between now and then. United boss Amorim has explained how he thinks Mainoo is not yet the complete player and can continue to improve under his management, hinting as to why he didn’t sanction a loan move. “I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him. I did it this week,” he said last week. “I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better. “For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie and that’s it.” Mainoo’s current contract runs until 2027, but United have the option of extending the deal by a further year. United have been working to try and get the player tied down to a new deal, but he rejected the initial proposal at the start of the calendar year. Giving an update last month, Amorim said : “That part is with Jason [Wilcox], so he is our player. He has a contract. I didn’t hear any news about that.” Former player turned pundit Paul Merson has questioned why Mainoo is not getting into the United team, given the disappointing performances and results so far this season. “If you’re him and you’re sitting there and you’re watching that and you’re not playing, something’s going on,” he told Sky Sports News. “I don’t know what’s happening in training, I don’t know what happens behind the scenes, but the kid has got to be asking himself serious questions as to how he’s not playing in that football team. “He came on against Man City and I thought he did well, at least he had a go. But he needs to be playing from the start but I don’t know why. “For me, it’s quite worrying because the kid’s got talent and he’s a Man United lad, he’s come through the ranks and he’s not playing. For me, he’s the only one who can answer that.”