Man United are ‘unlikely to sign Sofyan Amrabat on £17m permanent deal’ after the emergence of starlet Kobbie Mainoo… with the Moroccan ‘struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premier League’

Manchester United are reportedly unlikely to keep loanee Sofyan Amrabat beyond the end of this season. 

The club feel Amrabat is struggling to meet the pace of the Premier League and Erik ten Hag sees Kobbie Mainoo as the future of the midfield, an insider told The Sun. 

Amrabat joined United on deadline day after an extended summer flirtation and he was seen as the answer to their lightness in midfield following an impressive 2022 Qatar World Cup.

However, he has not been the bedrock that they hoped he would be and has failed to convince many during his 17 games at the club. 

A club insider told The Sun: ‘Amrabat is very unlikely to stay at Manchester United after the summer. They have an option to make the deal a permanent one, but as things stand the manager is not making plans to do that.

Amrabat’s loan at Old Trafford has not worked out as hoped, with the club struggling 

‘There’s no doubt that Amrabat is a good player, but there are question marks against whether he is the right fit for the Premier League. The pace of the game is very different. 

‘As things stand, he won’t be staying at United. 

‘Kobbie is the future. Ten Hag regards the kid as one of the most talented youngsters he’s ever worked with. He’s that good.’

Mainoo has been a rare boon for United this season, putting in a string of impressive performances over pre-season and in the last few games. 

His progress was stunted by a foot injury suffered in a friendly against Real Madrid but he has been fast-tracked into the team in the last few weeks and acquitted himself well.

Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence has impressed Erik ten Hag and he is being relied on strongly