To say INEOS have their work cut out this summer is an understatement. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Manchester United insider reveals the latest on Kobbie Mainoo, whose future at Carrington is anything but certain at this stage.
The 20-year-old was one of the biggest revelations in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, and rounded off a memorable campaign by scoring against Man City in the FA Cup final.
However, the England international was lost in the shuffle last season, especially following the departure of Erik ten Hag and the arrival of Ruben Amorim who has been struggling to find him a place in his 3-4-2-1 system. Last term, the Portuguese manager tested the youngster in various roles, but the results were mostly underwhelming.
Kobbie Mainoo risks becoming an afterthought at MUFC
This season, the midfielder could be set for a reduced role, especially in the absence of European football. In fact, Amorim confirmed that Mainoo will have to ‘fight’ for a starting place against Bruno Fernandes.
Therefore, many believe that the Englishman is chasing a lost cause, as he, or any other player for that matter, is highly unlikely to displace the club’s skipper and most influential player over the past few years.
During his appearance on the Talk of the Devil podcast, Man United insider Andy Mitten insisted that if a club comes in with a ‘big offer’ for Mainoo, INEOS would bite their hand off.
🚨🗣️ @AndyMitten on Mainoo possibly leaving:
“Kobbie, from the people I’ve spoken to, I would be surprised if he went. I think if you got a big offer for him now, Manchester United would ABSOLUTELY consider selling him.”#MUFC [Talk of the devil pod] pic.twitter.com/aUXWuyUJna
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) August 25, 2025
Man United willing to sell Mainoo for the right offer
It is worth noting that the young midfielder is, after all, an academy product of the club, so his sale would translate into a pure capital gain.
That being said, the journalist isn’t aware of any offers at the moment, so he would be ‘surprised’ to see the player leave Carrington before the end of the summer.
| Kobbie Mainoo’s stats by coach | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Erik ten Hag | 44 | 5 | 1 |
| Ruben Amorim | 28 | 2 | 1 |
Mainoo is considered a fan favourite at Old Trafford. Hence, the fans would be loath to see him leave so soon in his playing career. But at the same time, the youngster needs to play on a regular basis to develop his game, and he has yet to step foot on the pitch thus far this season, so it is only normal for him to reflect on his future.
In recent weeks, Mainoo has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
