Man Utd handed boost over Chelsea target Kobbie Mainoo | OneFootball

Manchester United are increasingly confident that their prodigious midfielder Kobbie Mainoo will stay at Old Trafford this summer, although his uncertain contractual status remains unresolved according to a new report.

Injuries have pockmarked Mainoo's second season of senior football. When fit and available, he has continued to show flashes of his undeniable talent, recently levelling the score with a signature curler as United won a nine-goal thriller against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Despite extended spells on the sidelines, Mainoo's name has rarely been far from the headlines. There was said to be extensive interest from Chelsea during the January transfer window and it has since been claimed that the United academy graduate is prioritising a move abroad after rejecting an extension offer.

A new report from The Athletic's David Ornstein has downplayed concerns over an impending Mainoo exit. There is thought to be a "growing sense" that he will still be a Manchester United player next season, but concerns over his contract still "need to be addressed".

Kobbie Mainoo enjoyed his goal against Lyon / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

The speed of Mainoo's ascent has been concussive. The Stockport-born midfielder began the 2023/24 campaign with ten minutes of Premier League football to his name and ended the season starting for England in the European Championship final. He also found time to score in that summer's FA Cup final.

Mainoo signed his last United contract, which expires in 2027, in February 2023, ten days before he was handed his Premier League debut. While the relatively modest salary that contract afforded him was to be expected for a 17-year-old with little senior experience, Mainoo's current status points towards a hefty pay bump.

The lifelong United fan is said to be pushing for a weekly salary in the region of £180,000. This would represent an enormous increase compared to his existing deal - with some outlets suggesting a boost of almost nine-fold - but that still wouldn't put him in the same bracket of top earners at the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, however, has been in the business of making cuts rather than splashing the cash. The co-owner's stance of financial pruning has reportedly convinced United to make Mainoo available for sale. While that isn't to say that the club are actively searching for a suitor, it has been widely claimed that they would accept a suitable offer for their academy gem, who has been priced at around £70m.

While Mainoo may not be on the move this summer, his Manchester United future is far from certain.