Kobbie Mainoo has had an incredible resurgence under Michael Carrick. Despite his incredible form, no one in the Man United fan base is remotely surprised. Mainoo struggled for game time under former head coach Ruben Amorim, who seemed to undervalue the midfielder, but has flourished since his sacking.
Mainoo didn't start a single Premier League game in the 25/26 season while Amorim was at the helm of the team, instead electing to play Bruno Fernandes in midfield with Casemiro. Since Amorim was removed in favour of Carrick, Mainoo has started every game, and played almost every minute.
The problems with Ruben Amorim ran so deep, that there were consistent reports linking Kobbie Mainoo with a move away from the club. Mainoo is a boyhood United fan, and a graduate of United's Carrington academy, so allowing him to walk away from the club when he is clearly capable of playing for the club is more than many United fans could bare.
The key problem, apart from the lack of game time, was Mainoo's contract, which Amorim reportedly refused to sign off on. Now, while Mainoo has been re-integrated into the side, it seems that his contract remains an issue, and it could develop into a big problem at Old Trafford.
Will Kobbie Mainoo sign a new contract at Man United
At this stage, Mainoo remains on a small contract at United. Mainoo signed the contract in 2023, just as he was beginning to break into the team. The current deal is due to last until 2027, with the option of an extra year.
Since then, Mainoo has massively outgrown that contract, becoming a crucial figure in the team, scoring in the FA Cup final victory in 2024, and playing for England at the European Championships in 2024. When talks failed to materialise in the 24/25 season, Mainoo's camp began to be concerned.
With Mainoo's reduced role under Amorim, it made sense, to him if not the rest of the fanbase, that he wouldn't sign Mainoo to what was likely to be a large contract. Now that Mainoo's future looks to be more secure, Manchester United need to act faster.
Plenty of suitors were circling for Kobbie Mainoo when it seemed as though he may leave Old Trafford, and with his recent performances, you can guarantee that plently more would appear given the opportunity.
The problem with Mainoo's contract talks initially seemed to be that he was asking for too much given his reduced role in the team under Amorim. It remains to be seen whether the club will still try and get Mainoo to sign on reduced terms, but he deserves a bumper contract for the performances he has been putting in.
Manchester United need to treat their very own better. We've seen it recently with the less than glamourous departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. Kobbie Mainoo has stayed loyal under difficult circumstances, and deserves the recognition a new contract would offer. The longer United leave it, the more they risk losing one of their brightst young stars.