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Manchester United’s “true stance” on Kobbie Mainoo’s future has been revealed amid swirling rumours the 20-year-old midfielder may go away Outdated Trafford this week, in accordance with a report by TEAMtalk.
Points on and off the pitch
The prospect of Mainoo – a 20-year-old academy graduate from Salford with an impressive collection of technical attributes – leaving his boyhood membership would have been unthinkable final yr.
Recent from serving to United triumph within the FA Cup over native rivals Manchester Metropolis because the match’s greatest participant, Mainoo was included within the England squad for the 2024 European Championship in Germany over the summer season.
The midfielder started the match on the bench however would go on to start out in each knockout match, together with the 2-1 loss within the closing in opposition to Spain – an indication of his abilities being recognised at membership and worldwide degree.
His speedy ascension, from a youth participant to a fully-fledged worldwide taking part in on soccer’s grandest phases, was a outstanding one – and it makes the truth that United would think about his sale twelve months on all of the extra incomprehensible.
In January, United have been reported to be reluctantly open to letting Mainoo go attributable to PSR considerations. Moreover, the membership have been locked in talks over a brand new contract with the teenager asking for as a lot as a tenfold improve on his present £20,000-a-week wage packet.
Nevertheless, it’s not merely monetary points off the pitch which can be forcing United to contemplate Mainoo’s sale; he’s additionally struggling to seek out an apparent dwelling in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
In each of United’s opening video games of the season – at dwelling to Arsenal and away to Fulham – Amorim has chosen to maintain Mainoo on the bench, regardless of the crew desperately pushing for a objective in both match.
Within the 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday, the Portuguese coach introduced on Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven – two centre-backs – in addition to Manuel Ugarte, a defensive midfielder, forward of Mainoo, as United looked for a winner.
Amorim has beforehand spoken of how extremely he charges Mainoo, stressing he has “massive plans” for the midfield starlet. However the opening two weeks of the season have urged in any other case.
And these omissions has led to a wave of studies revealing each United and Mainoo would think about a shock exit earlier than the switch window shuts on September 1.
United need Mainoo to remain
A number of golf equipment throughout Europe are reported to have expressed curiosity in signing Mainoo, together with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton in England, in addition to European heavyweights like Atletico Madrid, Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich.
A worth as little as £45 million has been urged as ample to persuade United to do enterprise at this late stage of the window.
Nevertheless, TEAMtalk reveals sources at Outdated Trafford firmly refute strategies the membership need to promote Mainoo, as an alternative anticipating the teenager to signal a brand new long-term contract.
“Manchester United sources insist they would like to tie Kobbie Mainoo right down to a brand new contract slightly than money in on the midfielder, with the participant’s stance on an exit additionally revealed.
“At United this summer season, the membership have been ruthless in forcing out gamers deemed surplus to necessities – however TEAMtalk understands that Mainoo has not been handled in the identical means. There was no try to push him in direction of the exit, underlining the assumption in his long-term worth.”
There may be an “expectation” that Mainoo will keep to “struggle for his place with United and, in time, agree a recent deal at Outdated Trafford.”
The one means this situation will change is that if the participant himself actively pushes for an exit earlier than subsequent week’s deadline, the report concludes.
Nevertheless it’s clear what United’s stance on Mainoo is: he’ll keep and struggle for his place within the crew, like each different participant at a high membership throughout Europe. Whether or not the teenager rises to the problem is a query solely he can reply.
Featured picture Vasili Mihai-Antonio through Getty Photographs
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