Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly seeking an 800% wage hike to pen a new deal at Manchester United amid his links with Chelsea.
According to a report from Give Me Sport, Manchester United are keen on securing the long-term future of their academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo. However, his lofty wage demands could complicate things. The English international, who currently earns £20,000-a-week wages, is looking for a new deal worth £180,000 per week.
Mainoo made his Manchester United debut back in 2023 after coming up the ranks at the club. He has only gone from strength to strength since. Not only has he established himself as a key figure in the team, but the 19-year-old has even broken into the national team on the back of his performances.
The youngster is considered to be one of the best young defensive midfielders in the world, and the Red Devils are looking to tie him down to a new deal. Manchester United want him to have a pivotal role in their team under Ruben Amorim, and they have been considering offering him a new deal for some time.
While the struggling Premier League giants do want to extend his stay at the club, they are yet to offer him a deal as they would prefer to go ahead with it once he regains full fitness and is back in action. Manchester United have always intended to offer him fresh terms, but the revelation of his demands has raised doubts about his continuity at the club.
Kobbie Mainoo last penned a new deal at the club at the start of 2023, which runs until the summer of 2027, with the club holding an option to extend it for another 12 months. However, since he is only earning £20,000-a-week wages, the Red Devils are looking to offer him a deal that reflects his status on the team.
Mainoo’s lofty wage demands
While Manchester United are ready to offer Kobbie Mainoo much better terms, they are shocked to learn that the player’s camp is pushing for a salary increase to £180,000 per week plus bonuses, which is roughly an 800% hike. They do admire his playing style and believe he could be one of their stars going forward. But United are not currently willing to meet such demands.
His demands are believed to be above and beyond what the Red Devils were looking to pitch. While they want the Englishman around, that does not mean they are willing to keep him at any cost. Meanwhile, people at Manchester United are aware that rivals Chelsea are waiting for the perfect opportunity to prise him away from the club.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo suffers a blow
The West London club have been keeping a close eye on the English international and would love to sign him to further strengthen Enzo Maresca’s midfield. While the 19-year-old could be an ideal fit for them, the Blues are having doubts over whether they could lure him to Stamford Bridge as his wage demands are higher than what they are paying to their star forward Cole Palmer.
The former Manchester City star is earning around £125,000-a-week wages, while Mainoo wants a figure close to £180,000 per week plus bonuses. Kobbie Mainoo has made it quite clear that he will only entertain leaving Old Trafford if a club is willing to offer him a significant pay hike. As a result, Chelsea surely have an uphill task to convince him to join them.