There was a time not long ago when Kobbie Mainoo seemed destined to anchor Manchester United’s midfield for the next decade.
The teenager then had forced his way into Erik ten Hag’s plans during the 2023/24 campaign, seizing his chances and his stocks reached summit when Stockport born scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final against Manchester City.
A few weeks later he was wearing the England shirt at Euro 2024, holding his own in the knockout rounds and showing the kind of character that allowed him to speak up even among senior internationals.
That summer felt like the beginning of something permanent yet the following season turned into a stop-start struggle that halted his momentum.
His progress was disrupted by injuries, and this season has reached its lowest point, with the midfielder struggling for opportunities under Ruben Amorim and watching from the sidelines.
Mainoo has sat on the bench for both Premier League fixtures this term without a single minute on the pitch, while Amorim has preferred to pair Casemiro with Bruno Fernandes, and when he has shuffled his system, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte have both been called before the academy graduate.
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Amorim explained his view plainly, saying Mainoo is now “fighting for the position with Bruno”
“And I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount play there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.
"So he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as it should be at Manchester United. He’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position."
Garry Neville raises alarm as contract talks stall and transfer options open
That fight may soon extend beyond the training ground. According to talkSPORT, Mainoo would consider leaving Old Trafford this summer if United accept a suitable offer.
Chelsea have previously been linked, while the midfielder is reportedly open to moving abroad.
With less than two years left on his contract, negotiations for a renewal have stalled. United are unwilling to meet his £150,000 [$202,860]-per-week demand, which creates a major gap in salary expectations.
Any sale, however, would be recorded as pure profit in the club’s Profit and Sustainability calculations, giving the hierarchy financial incentive to consider offers.
Gary Neville, speaking on his podcast, highlighted the scale of the issue.
“In central midfield, they have to do a piece of business now,” he said.
“I would have liked to have thought that Mainoo could step up and be that person, but it is quite clear that at this moment in time Ruben Amorim isn’t having him.
He starts with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, he then puts Mason Mount back in there and he then brings Ugarte on in front of him. That tells you he is almost fourth choice really.”
“That means they are going to have to get something sorted because it is going to be a problem.
The two in there really do get exposed when the front three are a little bit higher and the back five sometimes get pushed back a bit, those acres of space seem to open up a bit.
“I think Bruno Fernandes is part of that in there and he is going to have to sort it out. I think Man United will have to get a goalkeeper and look at getting a central midfield player.”
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