Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo have yet to find an agreement over a new contract and the midfielder’s deal is approaching its final 12 months
Kobbie Mainoo’s contract expires in 2027(Image: 2026 Molly Darlington/Copa)
Kobbie Mainoo’s camp and Manchester United still have ‘lingering issues’ despite Ruben Amorim’s exit from the club. The young midfielder has less than 18 months remaining on his contract with little sign of a breakthrough at the moment.
Mainoo broke into Erik ten Hag’s team as a teenager in 2023/24 but found minutes more difficult to come by under Amorim. The academy product was denied a loan move ahead of this season and has previously been linked with interest from Chelsea.
It was only in January that Mainoo was awarded his first Premier League start, after Michael Carrick took the reins at Old Trafford. The 20-year-old has completed 90 minutes in the division seven times, as a mainstay of the United boss’ side.
That may not prove beneficial in any future negotiations over a new deal, however. Mail Online report that Mainoo agreed to a compromise on a new salary but did not hear back from the club until Amorim was dismissed.
It is now unclear, given Mainoo’s heightened role, whether the same terms will prove acceptable to the player’s camp. But, he is more settled now, and there is said to be ‘considerably more chance’ of him staying at the club with a new deal.
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Regardless, Carrick has firmly thrust his faith in the youngster and reaped the rewards. United’s boss is simply a massive supporter of the England international.
“We forget how young he still is,” Carrick said last month. “I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of.
“So it wasn’t really a big decision to play him. And, to be fair, it’s not easy when you haven’t played to find your rhythm and find your form.
Kobbie Mainoo arriving ahead of Everton vs Manchester United(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
“There are things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven’t really got started on any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again.
“I’ve been really conscious of not giving him an awful lot – a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things and some little bits here and there – but trust in what he is. He’s a fantastic footballer and he’s got a huge talent.”
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Mainoo’s team-mate, Diogo Dalot believes the midfielder will benefit from his difficult time under Amorim.
Dalot said:”How can you explain to a 20-year-old guy that you need to go back to what you did before – train hard, be humble, just wait for your opportunity? I don’t think that’s bad for him to pass through this experience.
“You might say he should have played a little bit more, or not, that might be your opinion, or not. But for him to go through that experience, I think it will benefit him for the future.”
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