Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones is convinced that Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford might be looking bleak if one news rumbling comes to fruition.
Kobbie Mainoo has been a major talking point – and contentious subject matter – in Manchester United’s 2025-26 Premier League campaign under Ruben Amorim.
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Amorim/Mainoo/Vitinha
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The 20-year-old Stockport-born talent has not started a Premier League match for United in the current season after losing his place in the starting XI.
Mainoo’s only start for the Red Devils came back in August in United’s humiliating penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park in the Carabao Cup.
The Red Devils midfielder has made 11 appearances in the Premier League this season and Mainoo has been struggling to secure regular United first-team minutes.
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Kobbie Mainoo during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Phil Jones asked about Kobbie Mainoo’s struggles in the Man Utd first team under Ruben Amorim
Bruno Fernandes has dropped into a deeper midfield role in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for Manchester United this season after the signing of Matheus Cunha.
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United manager Amorim has preferred to have Casemiro partner alongside Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes in the two-man midfield pivot for matches.
The Fernandes and Casemiro partnership has seen Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte tumble down the pecking order under Amorim in the 2025-26 campaign.
What do you think of Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wearing a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford?
This is NOT going to help Kobbie Mainoo!
Kobbie Mainoo's brother Instagram
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Monday Night Club, ex-United star Phil Jones admitted it would be difficult for Mainoo to start ahead of the current dynamic.
“Kobbie is the talk of the town at the minute,” he said.
“Should he be playing more? It’s difficult when you bring Cunha and Mbeumo in at the start of the season, who have been so influential for Manchester United.
“Then you drop Bruno into the number six role. Then he’s already stated, both Kobbie and Bruno in previous interviews, that they won’t play together.
“So, it’s going to be difficult for Kobbie to get into the team and dislodge anyone.”
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Phil Jones reacts to Man Utd links with Adam Wharton amid Kobbie Mainoo’s situation at Old Trafford
Adam Wharton has been linked with United and the 21-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder has reportedly been identified as a top target for the Red Devils next summer.
Jones believes that United’s pursuit of Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton could be the nail in the coffin for Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford under Amorim.
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“There’s also talk now about Adam Wharton potentially coming in and signing for United, who, by the way, I think is a terrific player,” he added.
“If that does happen, then I think it’s definitely time for Kobbie to look elsewhere if he were to come through the door.”
Wharton is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2029 and Palace have reportedly slapped a price tag of around £100m for the United-linked midfielder.
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