Surprising update in Kobbie Mainoo contract saga

Manchester United’s summer rebuild is expected to focus heavily on stability – both in the dugout and within the squad.

Following the January dismissal of Ruben Amorim, the club have been assessing long-term direction while interim boss Michael Carrick attempts to steady results on the pitch.

Amid that backdrop, clarity over key player contracts is viewed as a priority heading into the next transfer window.

One name central to those discussions is Kobbie Mainoo.

According to The Sun, United have yet to formally reopen contract talks with the 20-year-old midfielder – despite fully intending to agree new long-term terms.

The development is notable given Mainoo’s resurgence under Carrick, having started all six of the interim manager’s Premier League matches in charge.

Mainoo is currently under contract until 2027, with the club holding the option of an additional year.

However, he rejected an opening proposal for a new deal last year and even requested to leave on loan last summer during a difficult period under Amorim.

As previously reported, tensions emerged earlier this season between Kobbie Mainoo and Ruben Amorim, including a heated exchange at Carrington.

The young midfielder did not make a single Premier League start this season under the former head coach, fuelling speculation over his future at the time.

Carrick’s arrival appears to have changed that dynamic significantly.

Mainoo’s recall into the starting XI has effectively banished immediate exit rumours, and the club are said to be confident an agreement can eventually be reached.

The timing, however, raises questions.

With the Red Devils preparing for a pivotal summer – including the search for a permanent manager – securing the long-term futures of academy graduates is seen as crucial to squad continuity.

Mainoo, who famously scored the winner in the 2024 Emirates FA Cup final and features in England’s European Championship final that summer, remains one of the club’s brightest young assets.

While United’s intention to tie him down is clear, the absence of fresh negotiations at this stage makes for a surprising twist in what many expected to be a straightforward renewal.