Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has decided where his future lies after the England World Cup hopeful started his first Premier League game of the season in the victory over Manchester City
08:33, 18 Jan 2026Updated 08:36, 18 Jan 2026
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United running during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Kobbie Mainoo is set to play a big role under Michael Carrick(Image: Neal Simpson/Allstar, Getty Images)
Manchester United will be riding high after a statement 2-0 victory over local rivals Manchester City in Saturday's derby at Old Trafford. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave interim head coach Michael Carrick the ideal start.
The Red Devils now face a challenging encounter with Arsenal in a week's time as they aim for a top-four finish and a guaranteed spot in next season's Champions League. United are anticipated to have a quiet January transfer window as they evaluate their options for the next permanent head coach.
Securing a place in Europe's premier competition would undoubtedly make Old Trafford a more appealing prospect ahead of the summer transfer window. Here's a round-up of the latest United transfer news and gossip....
Mainoo's future
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United and Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City challenge during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Kobbie Mainoo started his first Premier League game of the season against Manchester City(Image: Neal Simpson/Allstar, Getty Images)
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Despite reported interest from Chelsea, Kobbie Mainoo is not expected to leave Manchester United this month. The midfielder made his first Premier League start of the season in Saturday's derby victory.
Before the match against City, Mainoo had only clocked up 380 minutes of play across all competitions this season. As a result of his limited game time, it was widely assumed that he would be left out of England's squad for the upcoming World Cup.
The United academy product was prevented from leaving Old Trafford on loan last summer, despite considerable interest from Chelsea and Napoli. After failing to impress Ruben Amorim, he was expected to leave the club in January.
However, according to CaughtOffside, Amorim's dismissal and Carrick's arrival have altered the situation, and Mainoo has now decided not to push for a move away from United before the transfer deadline on 2 February.
Contract 'clause'
Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder #18 Casemiro celebrates scoring their second goal for 2-1 during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 15, 2025. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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Casemiro looks revitalised at Manchester United(Image: PETER POWELL, AFP via Getty Images)
In terms of contracts, Casemiro can activate an additional year at Manchester United by starting a certain number of matches this season.
The Brazilian star's contract expires at the end of this season, but the Reds have the option to extend his deal by another 12 months.
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The former Real Madrid player is one of the highest earners at Old Trafford, with a weekly wage of around £300,000. The Athletic reports that if he reaches the target of 35 starts in all competitions, his contract will automatically be extended to 2027 at his current salary.
So far this season, the Brazilian has started 19 times, all in the Premier League. To hit the target, he would need to feature in every line-up from now until the end of the season, with United having only 16 more games.