Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has asked to leave Manchester United on loan before the end of the transfer window after falling down the pecking order under manager Ruben Amorim.
The England international did not feature in United’s opening two Premier League games, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro being the first-choice central midfield pair.
His first start came in United’s Carabao Cup second round defeat to Grimsby Town on Wednesday evening at Blundell Park, but that has not convinced Mainoo that he will get enough playing time this season.
According to the BBC, United have now rejected the young midfielder’s request to leave the club as they still rate him highly and want him to stay to fight for a place in the team. It is unknown whether Mainoo will keep pushing for an exit before Monday’s deadline.
Mainoo has struggled in Amorim’s two-man midfield as a result of his lack of athleticism. The Portuguese coach claims he ‘believes a lot‘ in him, but needs to do more to get more playing time
His best performance under the Portuguese coach came in the Europa League fixture at FSCB last term when he played as the No.10. He registered a goal and an assist as United beat the Romanian outfit 2-0.
However, he is unlikely to play in that position with the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who were signed with huge fees this summer and are expected to play in the two number 10 positions.
Mainoo must step up to fight his way back into Amorim’s plans if he stays at United. His lack of game time will affect his chances of playing at next year’s FIFA World Cup.
While United want the 20-year-old to stay, the club are still exploring the market for a new midfielder, which could further make it challenging for him to get playing time.