Kobbie Mainoo’s long-term future at Manchester United is still up in the air as talks over a new contract for the England midfielder drag on.
It was hoped that Ruben Amorim’s sacking would see a breakthrough in negotiations after Mainoo was frozen out under the former United boss, and the situation is certainly more positive now he has been restored to the starting line-up by new head coach Michael Carrick.
However, Confidential understands there are still lingering issues between the 20-year-old’s camp and the Old Trafford hierarchy after he agreed to a compromise on his new salary and then didn’t hear back from United until Amorim was fired in January.
Mainoo earns significantly less than his team-mates, and it’s unclear if his representatives would be willing to accept the same terms now he has underlined his importance to the team since Carrick replaced Amorim.
The Stockport-born player is said to be far more settled than he was in the summer when his request to go out on loan to Napoli for the season in search of regular football was rejected by United.
There is now considerably more chance of him staying at Old Trafford and signing a new long-term contract if the two sides can reach an agreement again.
Kobbie Mainoo is far more settled at Manchester United now Ruben Amorim has been replaced by Michael Carrick, but there has been no major breakthrough in his contract talks
The 20-year-old midfielder has underlined his importance to the side in recent months and is likely to win an England recall before this summer’s World Cup
But United’s Premier League rivals and a number of European clubs are said to be monitoring Mainoo’s situation and his swift return to form, which is likely to result in a recall to the England squad ahead of the World Cup.
Mainoo would face an uncertain future at Old Trafford if a deal can’t be struck, but he is under contract until 2027 and United – who have the option to extend that contract by another year – would be reluctant to sell him this summer with Casemiro and, possibly, Manuel Ugarte leaving the club.
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