Kobbie Mainoo: United’s stance on new contract revealed

Manchester United remain optimistic that Kobbie Mainoo will commit his long-term future to Old Trafford, despite recent contract negotiations stalling, according to Football Insider.

The 20-year-old academy graduate, whose current terms expire in 2027, has become a fixture in the first-team picture since Michael Carrick took the reins, starting every match under the interim boss. That run of games has reversed Mainoo’s earlier frustration, when a lack of minutes under previous management left him contemplating an exit.

Talks over fresh terms hit an impasse after Ruben Amorim’s departure, yet sources close to the club insist confidence is high that a breakthrough will be reached. United hold an option to extend the midfielder’s deal by an additional 12 months, but the hierarchy would prefer to reward his rapid progression with an improved, longer contract now rather than rely on the clause.

Mainoo’s representatives are understood to be pushing for a salary that reflects his status as a first-team regular, placing him among the club’s higher earners. With INEOS prioritising squad stability alongside summer reinforcements, the negotiators are expected to return to the table as United accelerate their transfer planning.

While the player’s recent form has dipped, club chiefs view the Stockport-born talent as central to the rebuild and are determined to avoid any uncertainty heading into the final year of his existing agreement.