Manchester United give update on Kobbie Mainoo future amid contract talks

Manchester United give update on Kobbie Mainoo future amid contract talks

Kobbie Mainoo is now 20 and last signed a contract with Man United when he was 17 and had only played three times for the club.

Mainoo has played in three different roles for Amorim

Ruben Amorim indicated Manchester United have made no progress in discussions with Kobbie Mainoo over a new contract.

‌

Mainoo, 20, rejected United's initial proposal at the start of the calendar year and Chelsea were linked with a move for the midfielder in the winter transfer window.

‌

Although Mainoo has failed to regain his place in the United first team, their shortage of midfielders means he will almost certainly stay beyond the closure of the summer transfer window.

‌

Mainoo was 17 when he last signed a contract with United and his current deal expires in 2027 but the club has the option of an additional year.

Amorim stressed it was director of football Jason Wilcox's responsibility to tie down players on new contracts. "That part is with Jason, so he is our player. He has a contract, I didn’t hear any news about that."

‌

Mainoo has started only 15 times since Amorim was appointed head coach in November last year and the academy graduate was an unused substitute in United's opening Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

Amorim started Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in midfield against the Premier League runners up and Mainoo was trialled as one of the two playmakers and even as a striker last season.

The England international suffered two lengthy injury lay-offs last year and Amorim spoke optimistically about Mainoo's development during the pre-season tour but the Portuguese's 3-4-2-1 system has jarred with Mainoo's skill set.

Article continues below

"We play with two midfielders and it is a different way of playing," Amorim reiterated. "They have to understand, the young players, there are phases in the season. Nowadays it's normal, with a lot of games, things are going to change. But he is there, he is fighting, he is training, he is one more option for us to win games."

Defenders Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui remain the only two players out injured for United's second fixture of the campaign at Fulham on Sunday.

Andre Onana is expected to be recalled, though Amorim refused to say who would start in goal.

Click here to read article