Man United get worrying transfer update as 'next Kobbie Mainoo' may leave amid La Liga interest

Manchester United centre-back Willy Kambwala is 'close' to leaving the club and joining Villarreal, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The 19-year-old has made 10 appearances for United's first team and was often used by Erik ten Hag amid the injury crisis that hindered them last season. He appeared twice in the FA Cup and another eight in the Premier League.

Kambwala's performances led to glowing praise by Ten Hag and the youngster had been tipped for a big future at Old Trafford. "[Kambwala] has been training a while with us and progressing well," he told BBC Sport in April following the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. "The next generation needs to step in and he is doing brilliantly. The challenge for him is doing it consistently.

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"Great opportunity for him. We have other options, like bringing Casemiro in at centre-half, but today he deserved it and he showed it on the pitch."

His displays for the first-team even led to former defender Raphael Varane claiming he could be the next academy wonderkid and follow in the footsteps of Kobbie Mainoo. "He is showing his qualities. I think he will play more matches in the future and continue to improve," Varane said.

"He is very young, but he is showing qualities and we trust him. He has a great future."

However, it now seems to be the case that Kambwala won't replicate Mainoo's pathway as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. Romano has reported that Villarreal are closing in on a deal to sign the teenager for a fee of around €10m (£8.4m).

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Romano