Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly informed Manchester United of his desire to leave on loan before the transfer window closes in order to play regular first-team football elsewhere.
Softfootball understood that Mainoo told United at a meeting on Thursday that while he has no intention of cutting ties with his boyhood club, the 20-year-old midfielder believes his current situation does not provide the opportunity to develop his career.
The England international started the Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town on Wednesday night, but was an unused substitute in both of United’s Premier League games this season.
Mainoo has yet to feature in the Premier League this season, appearing only in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby. Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen showed interest but did not pursue a deal for financial reasons.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his X account, Manchester United have made it clear that Kobbie Mainoo will not be allowed to leave this summer, not even on loan. The club want the midfielder to stay and fight for his place, though Mainoo is pushing for a loan move in search of regular game time. The post reads:
“Manchester United have told Kobbie Mainoo that they’ve no intention to let him leave, not even on loan.
#MUFC want Kobbie to stay and fight for his place…
…while Mainoo insists for loan for game gime.”
Kobbie Mainoo has struggled to replicate the form that saw him shine for England at Euro 2024, where he started in the Three Lions’ final defeat to Spain in Berlin. The midfielder featured in 10 of Rúben Amorim’s first 13 league games in charge but has since slipped down the pecking order.
Amorim confirmed that Mainoo is currently battling United captain Bruno Fernandes for a place in midfield, with the Portuguese playmaker having started all but four of the club’s 61 matches across competitions last season.
Mainoo is not the only United player facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with Alejandro Garnacho on the verge of joining Chelsea as the Blues have agreed a £40m fee to sign the Argentine winger, who has been training away from United’s first-team since pre-season.
