West Ham have been linked with a move for Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the January transfer window, and his arrival could see another midfielder leaving.
Nuno Espirito Santo inherited a West Ham United side in the bottom three and will need the board to back him in the transfer market in order to take the team to the next level.
Mainoo has struggled for game time under Ruben Amorim, who has preferred a midfield pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesKobbie Mainoo’s arrival could see Andy Irving being sold
Andy Irving has not been among the first names on the team sheet this season for the Hammers.
The 25-year-old has made just two Premier League starts and another four appearances off the bench.
However, he’s only played 151 minutes for the first team in the top-flight and given his age, he would want to be playing more.
Mirror journalist Ryan Taylor reported that Mainoo is on West Ham’s radar and should Manchester United sanction his exit, Nuno would likely welcome the England international with open arms.
However, that would put Irving further down in the pecking order of midfielders at the London Stadium, so an exit cannot be ruled out.
West Ham ramp up recruitment discussions ahead of January window.
FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Djú & Lille centre-back Alexsandro among names on radar.
Kobbie Mainoo & Joshua Zirkzee possible options if Manchester United sanction winter exits. ⬇️https://t.co/5Asijqo9wv
— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) November 12, 2025
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Will West Ham United cash in on Irving?
Irving was signed by the Hammers in 2023 but did not make his debut for them until September 2024, as he was immediately loaned out to Austria Klagenfurt.
The Scotland international signed a three-year deal, so his contract at the London Stadium runs out at the end of the season.
Rather than letting him leave on a free transfer in the summer, it makes sense for the Hammers to cash in on him in January.
Currently, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Mateus Fernandes and Freddie Potts are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Mainoo’s arrival would see Irving become the sixth-choice midfielder and for a player in his mid-20s, that is not an ideal situation.
West Ham could try to get around £2million or £3million for his services, but they need to start offering him to clubs as soon as possible in order to drum up interest ahead of January.