Manchester United have reportedly rejected a request from Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club on loan before this summer's transfer window closes for business.
Mainoo played the full 90 minutes against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night before scoring in the resulting penalty shootout, but he could not help his side advance to the next round.
As a result, Man United will only have one game per week until the FA Cup begins in January, and Mainoo has been an unused substitute in his side's opening two games of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
The 20-year-old is in competition with Bruno Fernandes for a starting spot in midfield, and he is expected to be back on the bench for Saturday's Premier League clash with Burnley at Old Trafford.
There has been a host of speculation surrounding Mainoo's future of late, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich all thought to be interested in signing him on loan.
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo on May 4, 2025
Man United 'reject' Mainoo loan request
Brighton & Hove Albion are thought to lead the Premier League interest, with the Seagulls said to be willing to offer him regular starts in a World Cup year, as the youngster bids to make Thomas Tuchel's squad for the 2026 tournament.
According to The Athletic, Mainoo informed Man United on Thursday that he wanted to leave on loan before Monday's deadline, but the Red Devils were quick to reject the request.
The 20-time English champions are allegedly expecting Mainoo to battle for his spot in the side, and it is said that the club are still fully behind him despite the fact that head coach Ruben Amorim has different plans for his midfield at this moment in time.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, discussions are expected to continue on Friday, with the midfielder making it clear that he only wants a temporary exit and is still fully committed to the Red Devils.
However, Man United are unlikely to change their position at this stage of the transfer window.
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo in action against Grimsby Town on August 27, 2025
Will Mainoo leave Man United before the transfer deadline?
Man United's absence from Europe this season, and the fact that they have already been eliminated from the EFL Cup, means that the team will only play Premier League games between now and January.
Casemiro and Fernandes, as it stands, are Amorim's starters in central midfield, while Manuel Ugarte has also been used off the bench ahead of Mainoo this season.
It is therefore difficult to imagine Mainoo receiving much action in the coming weeks, but he was one of the team's better performers against Grimsby, and it would be a mistake to let him leave on loan.
Amorim has said that Mainoo is in competition with Fernandes, but the two could operate together in midfield, with a 4-3-3 formation suiting him; that will not occur under Amorim, although there is intense speculation surrounding the manager's future, with Saturday's game against Burnley potentially being his last at the helm.
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