Sir Alex Ferguson has previously described midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as the “heart and soul” of Manchester United alongside teammate Alejandro Garnacho. (Which many believe was the one who leaked the lineup)
Now the “heart and soul” can disappear from Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo is said to have made significant demands during the contract negotiations, which has caused them to come to a standstill.
Kobbie Mainoo is said to have asked for a significant pay rise for rejecting Chelsea and signing a new contract at Old Trafford, which is not fitting as Britain’s richest are supposed to save money.
Mainoo’s current deal with United expires in the summer of 2027, but the Manchester Evening News reports that the club are keen to extend that contract after the 19-year-old’s breakout season in 2023/24. The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler now claims that Chelsea are waiting in the cans to hijack the 19-year-old if the parties fail to agree on new terms.
The central midfielder is said to be “worried” about the direction of the club despite the recent appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager and the encouraging signs shown during United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
While United fans do not want or likely expect Mainoo to leave the club, David Ornstein of The Athletic claimed on Sunday that only two players – Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo – are “off the table” in terms of transfers.
It is claimed that neither Mainoo nor Alejandro Garnacho – whose deals expire in 2027 – are completely out of being sellable, as they are both homegrown players and their sale can be recorded as “pure profit” on the balance sheet of the Premier League’s sustainability rules.
The MEN have previously reported United’s insistence that they will not break the regulations after paying compensation to Erik ten Hag and to Sporting for Amorim, but the proximity to the line is set to limit their spending in January.
Should United want to extend Mainoo’s deal, the Mail says the 19-year-old is demanding a salary of around £200,000 per week.
