Manchester United are reportedly ready to sell Kobbie Mainoo this summer.
According to sources, the club has named his price at £80 million. Moreover, two key reasons for his potential exit have emerged. In addition, both Chelsea and Bayern Munich have shown interest in the teenage midfielder.
The 19-year-old shone under Erik ten Hag last season, making 32 appearances in all competitions. He played a crucial role in helping United secure glory in the FA Cup final. Furthermore, he earned 10 caps for England, which highlighted his rapid development and promise.
However, his progress has stalled since Ruben Amorim took charge. The change from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-2-1 formation has limited his impact. Moreover, doubts have grown among the coaching staff about his ability to fit into the new system.
Additionally, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has adopted a ruthless transfer policy at Old Trafford. Early in the January window, the possibility of selling Mainoo became apparent. The club now considers his exit as one way to fund a vital squad rebuild, and his sale is one of several high-profile moves under consideration.
According to Fichajes, United have set the price for Mainoo at £80 million. They believe this amount would greatly assist Amorim with his squad overhaul. Furthermore, concerns over his suitability in a 3-4-2-1 system have intensified. His experiment as one of two No.10s against Crystal Palace failed to yield the desired results.
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Mainoo’s contract expires in summer 2027, with an extra one-year option in place. Currently, he earns only £25,000 per week, making him the lowest-paid star in United’s first-team. In contrast, his agent has reportedly been seeking a deal around £200,000 per week. Consequently, his contract situation might speed up his potential exit.
Despite the transfer rumors, Mainoo’s achievements argue against a sale. Since his full Premier League debut in November 2023, he has become an automatic pick in midfield. He also starred for England at Euro 2024, starting all four knockout matches as they reached a major final on foreign soil. Moreover, he finished third in the vote for the 2024 Golden Boy award and earned nominations for both the PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League Young Player of the Season awards.
Mainoo continues to impress with his dribbling and vision. He ranks in the 91st percentile for successful take-ons per 90 minutes on FBref. In the 2023/24 season, he scored six goals in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
As Roy Keane observed, “You see the stuff he is doing, I played in that position, but he’s doing stuff that probably took me 10 years to learn.” Furthermore, Paul Scholes compared his potential to that of Toni Kroos and Rodri. Ultimately, Manchester United must decide whether to let this rare talent slip away.
