After putting three goals past United at Old Trafford, the Cityzens also want to poach their future star

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Manchester United fans are having to brace themselves for another conquest of their "noisy neighbours", as Sir Alex Ferguson once famously called them.

Manchester City is reportedly interested in signing young talent Kobbie Mainoo from their cross-city rivals. If they pull the transfer off, it will be another indication of a power shift in the city - and will fully highlight the contrasting situations of the two clubs.

For Kobbie, football is not a hobby

The Sky Blues recently defeated Manchester United 3-0 in a match where they seemed to be in control without much effort, underlining the significant gap between the two sides. Currently, Pep Guardiola's side has a nine-point lead over United in the league. Taking a promising player off their opponents is another slap in the face for the red half of the city.

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Kobbie Mainoo, an exciting prospect from United's academy, has caught the attention of many football fans during pre-season. And according to FourFourTwo - key people at City have also been highly impressed with the 18-year-old's development. He is recognized as one of the most promising teenagers in the world of football. Mainoo was expected to play a role in Erik Ten Hag's squad at the beginning of the season, but an injury he sustained during a match against Arsenal in the United States set him back. Mainoo has shown great potential and is considered one of the standout players to emerge from United's renowned academy in recent years. Losing him to Manchester City would be a significant setback for United, although it's worth noting that he has a long-term contract with the club.

The financial details of the potential transfer and whether Manchester United would consider an offer from City remain unclear. Given City's commitment to developing young talents and United's current financial constraints, this transfer would be intriguing if it were to materialize. It's interesting to note that the last player to feature for both Manchester clubs was Jadon Sancho, who left City's academy and later joined Manchester United after a successful spell with Borussia Dortmund.

Mainoo is on the road to recovery after a nasty ankle injury he sustained during a pre-season game against Real Madrid. He recently made his return to action by featuring for United's U-21 team in an EFL Cup match against Salford City, and he looked like the injury lay-off hadn't affected his performance. In the game, Mainoo provided two assists despite their 4-3 defeat, and he played the full 90 minutes.

It appears that Mainoo is making a strong case for a swift return to the first team. While Manchester United faces deep-seated issues that go beyond what an 18-year-old can solve, having a homegrown talent like Mainoo showcase his skills would undoubtedly boost the spirits of the Old Trafford crowd. His return could bring a breath of fresh air to the team and its supporters. Or maybe to Manchester City fans?