Manchester United have reportedly laid out their transfer demands for midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ahead of his possible exit from Old Trafford this summer.
The 19-year-old has been one of the shining lights in a difficult couple of years for the Red Devils, but a parting of the ways at the end of the season now looks increasingly likely.
Mainoo’s contract at the Theatre of Dreams runs until 2027, and Man United have been working to tie him to an extension, but it has been reported that he will reject the chance to sign fresh terms in favour of a move elsewhere.
Inter Milan are supposedly the latest club to show an interest in a summer deal, and Man United are sure to be inundated with offers for Mainoo should it become clear that they will go their separate ways.
Man United also have a major economic incentive to offload Mainoo, who is a home-grown player and whose sale would therefore go down as pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Man United ‘name hefty asking price’ for Mainoo sale
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According to the Manchester Evening News, the 20-time English champions are hopeful of accruing £70m through the sale of Mainoo, who has a ‘genuine chance’ of ending his stint at Old Trafford this summer.
The report adds that Man United have been attempting to tie Mainoo down to fresh terms since last March, but 12 months later, there is no sign of an imminent agreement despite continuing conversations.
Either one or both parties must supposedly be willing to ‘compromise’ in order to continue their partnership, although there is a growing feeling that an exit ahead of the 2025-26 season may be the ‘best’ course of action.
However, people who have worked closely with the 19-year-old at Man United’s Carrington training base reportedly feel that he has all the attributes needed to captain the Red Devils in the future, and a sale would spark major debate.
Mainoo has struggled to showcase his best form this season, only managing one goal and one assist in 25 appearances for Ruben Amorim‘s side, where he has functioned as both a deep-lying and advanced midfielder.
The teenager has not been helped by two separate muscular injuries, including one that has sidelined him since early February, and he is not anticipated to return until the middle of April at the earliest.
Who could follow Mainoo out of the Man United exit door?
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Amid a humbling Premier League season which has left the Red Devils 13th in the table, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co will likely give the green light to several exits when the market re-opens.
Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Christian Eriksen are all set to leave when their deals expire in June, and the former recently talked up a possible return to one of his former clubs.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire and Casemiro could be sold in the summer before their contracts run out in 2026, although the latter is apparently keen to stay for the final year of his agreement.
Offers might also be entertained for under-performing strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, as well as goalkeeper Andre Onana, whose exit stance has supposedly been revealed ahead of the summer.
