Manchester United reportedly hold a clear-cut stance on Kobbie Mainoo and two of his teammates amid all three players being linked with moves away from the club.
Kobbie Mainoo lost his place in the Manchester United starting XI under Ruben Amorim this season and his midfield influence at Old Trafford significantly waned.
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Ruben Amorim had chosen to play Bruno Fernandes in the two-man midfield pivot and Casemiro was his preferred pick alongside the 31-year-old Man Utd captain.
Mainoo has played in 12 Premier League matches in the 2025-26 campaign and the 20-year-old Stockport-born midfielder has not made a single league start.
The Red Devils midfielder missed four Premier League matches in a row due to a calf injury before returning in United’s 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor.
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Kobbie Mainoo during the FA Cup third-round match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Man Utd’s transfer position on Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte ahead of the January window closing
Kobbie Mainoo has only made two starts for the Red Devils this season, with the England star returning to the starting XI for Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat.
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Mainoo is under contract with Man Utd until 2027 and the Red Devils midfield talent has been heavily linked with defending Serie A champions Napoli in the past.
ESPN now reports that United are ‘unlikely’ to see player exits in January and Mainoo is ‘expected’ to remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the Premier League season.
According to the publication, Man Utd’s stance on Mainoo is the same as that of Roma-linked Joshua Zirkzee and Galatasaray-linked Manuel Ugarte in the transfer window.
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Man Utd’s feelings about their midfield after Ruben Amorim was sacked by the Premier League club
The Red Devils have looked exposed in the midfield area in the 2025-26 Premier League season before Amorim was axed as Man Utd head coach.
ESPN revealed that United are ‘aware’ of their midfield vulnerability and the ‘need to bolster’ their options, but ‘their leading targets’ are unavailable for a transfer.
United have been linked with several midfield options in recent months, including Premier League trio Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba.
However, it is believed that the Red Devils will ‘not make short-term signings’ to fill the problems in the United midfield ahead of the summer transfer window opening.
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