Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract extension at Manchester United until 2031, with Michael Carrick playing a pivotal role in securing the midfielder's future and ending Arsenal transfer speculation
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick reportedly played a key role in midfielder Kobbie Mainoo signing a new contract(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick appears to have played a pivotal role in preventing Kobbie Mainoo from making the switch from Manchester United to Arsenal this summer. Speculation surrounding the young midfielder's future had been swirling in recent months, before finally coming to a conclusion last week.
Mainoo has committed his future to United by penning a new long-term deal running until the summer of 2031, effectively ending rumours that he could leave Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old had been strongly linked with a move away from United during Ruben Amorim's tenure as head coach, though such talk has significantly subsided since Carrick took charge.
The Daily Mail reported that Arsenal had been exploring the potential of bringing Mainoo to the Emirates Stadium, should the midfielder become available this summer.
However, with Mainoo now having put pen to paper on a new deal - reportedly worth £150,000 per week (£7.8million per year) - any prospect of him joining Arsenal has completely evaporated.
Carrick has been instrumental in keeping Mainoo at United, with the interim boss restoring the midfielder to the starting eleven on a far more consistent basis since taking over from Amorim in the Old Trafford dugout.
Mainoo has completed the entire 90 minutes on 12 occasions across the 14 matches Carrick has overseen, with one remaining fixture seeing the United academy product feature for 76 minutes.
The only game Mainoo has been absent for during Carrick's spell was the loss to Leeds United, when the England international was ruled out through injury.
Prior to Carrick's appointment, Mainoo hadn't started a single Premier League match for United this season, but has subsequently been named in the starting line-up for every top-flight fixture he's been fit for since the managerial change in January.
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Mainoo netted the decisive goal for United in the 3-2 triumph over Liverpool in the Premier League at the weekend, and subsequently praised the influence Carrick has had in recent months.
"He's [Carrick] played a huge part," Mainoo told Sky Sports after United’s win over Liverpool on Sunday. "The confidence in not just me but all the players.
"You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch. That's what we showed today."
United have three remaining fixtures this season, with the victory over Liverpool already guaranteeing Champions League football.
The Reds will host Nottingham Forest before travelling to face Sunderland and Brighton in their final matches of the campaign this month.