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Kobbie Mainoo has requested to leave Man Utd to get more game time but what are the chances of him getting to leave this summer?
Manchester United’s transfer window started with a flourish, turned into a saga, then finally kicked into gear again as Ruben Amorim sculpted a squad in his image.
Will Kobbie Mainoo be at Man Utd when the transfer window shuts?
One late drama has been Kobbie Mainoo’s transfer demand, not so much a transfer request, more a statement of intent in that he wants to stay at Old Trafford, but that he wants to play more games. Having made such an impressive impact when he first broke through, the 20-year old will be frustrated at his current lack of game time especially with the skipper now playing in his position.
According to Simon Stone who is BBC Sport’s Chief Football News Reporter, via BBC Sport, it looks like the England international is staying put: “Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo seems unlikely to get his desired loan move before the transfer window closes later today. Mainoo wants the opportunity to spend the season away from Old Trafford as he fears his time on the pitch will be limited after head coach Ruben Amorim said he was in competition for a start with captain Bruno Fernandes.
“The 20-year-old is eager to maximise his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after starring on England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. Amorim said on Friday he wanted Mainoo to stay at Old Trafford and those views have only strengthened since Saturday, when both Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount suffered injuries.”
Mainoo’s World Cup dream hanging by a thread
There is an obvious reason why Mainoo wanted to go out on loan and get game time before returning to United next summer. The small matter of a World Cup across the Atlantic and a place in the England squad that is well within his reach and capabilities, but only if he is playing games.
Aside from Declan Rice, the competition for places in terms of being more defence-minded isn’t as strong as other areas of the park with Jordan Henderson and Adam Wharton the current members of the squad called up by Thomas Tuchel for the current international break.
To make matters worse, Elliot Anderson has been promoted from the Under-21s too, the Nottingham Forest midfielder proving to be justified in withdrawing from training with Scotland’s senior squad under Steve Clarke and benefitting from playing regularly under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Mainoo’s frustration must come from pre-season fixtures when he formed a solid partnership alongside Manuel Ugarte only to see Bruno Fernandes shoe-horned into a deeper midfield role to make room for summer signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Cuhna.
The injuries to Mount and Cunha might open the door, however, with no sign of a move, it looks like the bench will be Mainoo’s home for the foreseeable future and dreams of a place in the England World Cup squad a distant memory.
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