Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo are reportedly holding talks over a bumper new contract amid the youngster’s links with Chelsea.
According to a report by Ben Jacobs on Give Me Sport, Kobbie Mainoo is the subject of interest from Chelsea. However, the Blues do not want to meet Manchester United’s asking price of £70 million for the highly-rated youngster. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are discussing a possible new contract, with the Premier League bigwigs increasingly confident of tying the English midfielder to an improved contract.
The rise and rise of Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo has established himself as one of the best young prospects in the Premier League since breaking into the first-team squad at Manchester United. A native of Stockport, the Englishman represented Cheadle & Gatley and Failsworth Dynamos in the early years of his youth career before joining Manchester United.
The 19-year-old was one of several highly-rated prospects to benefit from Erik ten Hag’s youth-driven outlook, and he has not looked back since making his senior bow for Manchester United. Mainoo has already turned out over 50 times thus far for the Premier League club while chipping in with six goals and two assists.
However, the English international’s long-term future at Manchester United is uncertain amid the club’s struggles to satisfy the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. The situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of high-profile clubs like Chelsea. However, the Red Devils want to tie the highly-rated midfielder to a new long-term contract.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Chelsea’s interest in Kobbie Mainoo is understandable. While Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have forged a solid partnership in the middle of the park, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Andrey Santos face an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. So, Chelsea can do with a new midfielder, with the Manchester United wonderkid emerging as a viable target.
However, Manchester United’s asking price of £70 million has bewildered Chelsea, with the West London club not ready to meet the Red Devils’ valuation. In addition, recent reports have claimed that the 19-year-old Englishman wants his next contract to hand him £180,000-a-week wages, more than Cole Palmer’s salary. However, Manchester United are eager to tie him to a new deal.
While recent reports have claimed that Manchester United will postpone contract talks with the English international until the summer, Ben Jacobs has suggested that the two parties have had “positive discussions” over a new deal. In addition, the Red Devils are increasingly confident of securing his long-term future.