According to a fresh report, a complication has emerged amid Manchester United’s contract talks with Kobbie Mainoo as the player makes a demand to Rúben Amorim surrounding his position.
Kobbie Mainoo’s current standing at Manchester United is unclear amid a host of recent changes at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old England international broke into the United team during a stunning 2023/24 campaign that saw the player become one of United’s youngest-ever consistent starters, scoring in the FA Cup final and becoming one of England’s youngest-ever stars to start in the major final.
However, the 2024/25 campaign has not been as kind to the player. Multiple injuries have stopped him from kicking on in red, while the change in formation that came with Rúben Amorim replacing Erik ten Hag as head coach has meant he has failed to nail down a position at the club.
With the player’s current contract set to expire in June 2027, the club want to tie him down to a new deal, but a solution is yet to be reached.
Fresh Mainoo contract update emerges amid “complication”
With talks between both parties continuing ahead of the summer window, MailSport has provided an update on his situation amid continuing rumours that clubs across Europe are keeping tabs.
According to the above report, fresh talks took place recently, and there is an air of positivity surrounding reaching an eventual agreement on a new long-term deal.
However, there is still a gap regarding the financials offered by the club and the wages Mainoo wants, which is said to be set at around £180,000 a week.
Beyond this, Mainoo has demanded to know where his future lies within Amorim’s system on the pitch. There is uncertainty surrounding whether his long-term place will be as a deeper midfielder or part of the front three, which is also an issue that needs to be known before a new contract can be finalised.
The MailSport report claims that Mainoo’s status as a home-grown player, and therefore one that can be sold for pure profit according to profit and sustainability regulations, is complicating the deal, as it makes the player a more attractive asset to sell. Chelsea are said to be top of the list should this become a distinct possibility.
Amorim makes feelings on Mainoo and Garnacho clear
Despite the ambiguity surrounding Mainoo’s future and there also being rumours that Alejandro Garnacho may be for sale for the right price, Amorim has made it very clear that he is happy with the 20-year-old pair and would like to keep them both at the club.
“Yes, my players are always my favourites. So I really love my players, I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones,” he said earlier this year amid exit rumours about both players.
“It’s a special moment in this club, it’s a hard moment, I am really happy with Kobbie, he is improving and also with Garna (Garnacho).
“The first thing I think I don’t remember to say clearly that I want new players. What I said is sometimes the profile for this system is different and the players came here with a different idea how to play.”
Garnacho was recently asked about his future at United, to which he replied: “Yeah, obviously as a footballer, you always going to hear some rumours about the future… But I have a contract here until 2028, so I’m happy here.”
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