What David Ornstein said about Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United future amid Chelsea transfer interest

David Ornstein has delivered the latest on Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United future amid Chelsea’s transfer interest in the teenage sensation.

Stockport-born Kobbie Mainoo has swiftly established himself as a highly promising midfielder across the last 14 months at Manchester United.

Born in 2005, he joined the club’s academy at the age of nine and made rapid strides during the 2022/23 season, standing out in both the under-18 and under-21 teams.

His impressive displays led to a call-up for United’s 2023 pre-season tour, where he made an immediate impression with his technical quality, vision, and poise on the ball. At the time, then-manager Erik ten Hag lauded Mainoo’s versatility and potential, highlighting him as one of the club’s exciting young prospects.

However, the youngster sustained an injury while on tour in 2023, but once he returned in November, he cemented his place in the first team and has since played 52 times for the club and is now a key part of Rúben Amorim’s system alongside Manuel Ugarte.

Chelsea leading the race for Mainoo

According to a new report from the Daily Mail, Chelsea have registered interest in the 19-year-old England international.

It is stated that should the youngster ever leave United, the London-based club are leading the way for his signature. The report explains that Mainoo is thought to be in a stalemate over a new deal at United.

Mainoo signed a new deal with United that extended his contract until 2027, but he has been in further talks over another deal that reflects his rise as an England international and first-team member ever since.

The report states that Mainoo is also concerned over the club’s direction and chances of playing Champions League football, with Amorim’s side currently 13th in the Premier League table.

Since Todd Bohley took over as owner of Chelsea Football Club in May 2022, they have spent over £1 billion on transfers, proving that they are not scared to throw big money at high-quality targets.

Although they have had initial issues, they are now building a fantastic team under Enzo Maresca and sit 4th in the Premier League table, of which they no doubt believe Mainoo would contribute.

What Ornstein said about Mainoo’s future at United

The reason this Mainoo news might concern United fans is that the club are in a perilous position financially, and a potential sale of Mainoo would almost entirely fix the club’s profit and sustainability issues, which makes a transfer fiscally appealing.

Speaking on NBC last week, transfer specialist David Ornstein revealed that there is currently no news surrounding a potential new contract for the rising star and that there could be a possibility he could be sold, although he is currently seen a untouchable.

“If a departure is going to happen [for Marcus Rashford], a sale in particular, maybe it’s more likely in the summer, but it would represent pure profit, something we hear about so much, because he was an academy graduate.

“In the same way that Kobbie Mainoo might be, he’s out of contract in 2027 – no news on a new deal.

“Alejandro Garnacho too, I don’t think anybody in that bracket is off the table. Who is, is somebody like Leny Yoro, like Amad Diallo – I think they are untouchable.

“In terms of Amorim, Manchester United’s hierarchy, they fully support him; they back him to lead this transformation of the club.”

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