Michael Carrick has now sent a reassuring message to Manchester United fans about the long-term future of England star Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford amid ongoing contract talks.
Kobbie Mainoo is under contract with Manchester United until 2027 and the Red Devils are pushing for the Stockport-born talent to ink a new deal with the club.
The Man Utd midfielder’s future at Old Trafford had been in doubt earlier in the season after Mainoo fell down the pecking order under ex-Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.
However, the arrival of Michael Carrick at the Premier League club in January was a catalyst moment in the Old Trafford playing spell of United and England star Mainoo.
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Michael Carrick shakes hands with Kobbie Mainoo after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in 2026 in Bournemouth, England.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
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Michael Carrick thinks Man Utd are in a strong position over contract talks with England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo climbed back into the Red Devils starting XI under Michael Carrick after Ruben Amorim was sacked as Manchester United manager back in January.
The United youth academy product has started all 10 Premier League matches in Carrick’s interim head coach reign ahead of the Leeds United fixture on Monday.
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Mainoo’s run of form at Old Trafford in recent months even earned the United talent a call-up back to the England national team under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Speaking ahead of the Leeds United match, Carrick insisted that United’s ‘calmness’ around the Mainoo situation was due to the positivity around the contract talks.
“Obviously, we’d like to think so, yeah, and it’s getting closer, so we’re positive with that,” he said at his press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“We’re calm with it, but we’re positive with it. Time will tell how it goes, but at the moment we’re in a good place with it.”
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Kobbie Mainoo is likely to remain at Man Utd ahead of potentially representing England at the World Cup
Mainoo signed his current United contract back in 2023 ahead of his breakout season under former Ajax and Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The Three Lions international is reportedly earning £25,000 per week on his existing deal and Mainoo is expected to see his wages rise to £120,000 a week at United.
Mainoo had been heavily linked with clubs like Napoli over the course of the 2025-26 campaign after his struggles under former Sporting CP and United manager Amorim.
However, the England midfielder’s resurgence in form at Old Trafford and role under United legend Carrick is likely to see Mainoo commit to a new deal at the club.
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