Kobbie Mainoo's future at Old Trafford continues to be questioned as the 20-year-old midfielder has not yet been offered a contract extension. The elite product of the Carrington academy is currently bound until the summer of 2027, but new negotiations have not been officially resumed.
Mainoo once rejected an extension offer more than a year ago and even requested to be loaned when his playing opportunities declined under former coach Ruben Amorim. Although he has regained his position in the squad since Michael Carrick took over, his contract situation is said to be in deadlock.
According to many sources, both sides want to continue to stick together. Mainoo has made 92 appearances since being promoted to the first team in the 2022-2023 season. And the "Red Devils" leadership considers him an important factor in the long-term plan.
A bigger variable lies in Casemiro's future. The Brazilian midfielder has confirmed that he will leave the club this summer. Although the contract has a one-year extension clause, Man United decided not to activate it.
The US Major League Soccer (MLS) has emerged as a potential destination after Casemiro's recent trips to Florida and Miami. However, he is also considering staying in Europe, with the possibility of moving to Serie A - where his former teammate at Real Madrid, Luka Modric, just joined AC Milan.
I will always carry Manchester United with me throughout my life. It's not yet time to say goodbye, we still have a lot to fight in the last months" - Casemiro shared when confirming his plan to leave Old Trafford.
If Casemiro leaves while Mainoo's future is not guaranteed, Man United may lose two key midfielders at the same time. This forces the club to consider personnel addition options in the summer transfer window.
In the context of rebuilding the squad and aiming to return to the Champions League, the decision to keep or not keep Mainoo will be an important test for the long-term strategy of the Old Trafford team.
At the national team level, Mainoo has 10 caps for England but has not played since Thomas Tuchel took over the coaching squad. The last time this young midfielder played for the "Three Lions" was in the 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in September 2024.
However, Tuchel still left the door open to return, affirming that Mainoo is in the plan thanks to his tactical adaptability and versatility in midfield. In the context that England is preparing for a friendly series in March with Uruguay and Japan, before entering the World Cup group stage against Croatia, Ghana and Panama, the opportunity for Mainoo to affirm his position is completely present.
However, at the club level, Mainoo's future is still a big question mark. Man United has been holding one of the most elite products of the academy for many years.
The problem is not in the potential or desire to contribute of the player, but in the speed and decisiveness of the M.U leadership at the negotiating table. Keeping a gem grown from Carrington is not only a professional decision, but also a message about the long-term strategy of the "Red Devils" in the reconstruction phase.
