Kobbie Mainoo: Manchester United want to open contract talks with midfielder

Manchester United are keen to resume talks with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo over a new contract that would bring him in line with his fellow senior squad members.

Mainoo’s current contract expires in 2027, although there is an option to extend that by a further year. There have been no discussions yet and it remains to be seen how open Mainoo is to signing a new deal given his well-publicised desire to leave United on loan last summer.

Mainoo has not started a single Premier League game this season under Ruben Amorim and was hoping to secure a loan move during the current transfer window.

However, since Amorim’s exit Mainoo has been reintegrated into the senior fold.

Interim boss Darren Fletcher started the 20-year-old in the FA Cup third round defeat by Brighton earlier this month and Mainoo kept his place for Michael Carrick’s first game in charge as United beat City convincingly in last weekend’s Manchester derby.

Mainoo signed a long-term deal in 2023 but it was thought a new contract would be agreed with the player in the wake of his goalscoring contribution to United’s 2024 FA Cup final win over City, which was followed by the youngster starting England’s Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.

However, there was no agreement at that time and the treatment he received following Amorim’s arrival left the Mainoo camp wondering whether United value the player.