Kobbie Mainoo has surprisingly declined at Manchester United and has lost his place in the starting lineup. Softfootball can report that since the arrival of Ruben Amorim in December 2024, the academy graduate has failed to pin down a regular shirt in his 3-4-3 system.
The 20 year old has always started from the bench and it’s no surprise, latest report by Transfer News Live on their X handle, is linking him with a move to Tottenham. According to the report;
“Tottenham are closely monitoring Kobbie Mainoo, with the midfielder yet to agree a long-term extension to his Man Utd contract, which expires in 2027.”
Lack of playing time and his low wages might be the main reasons for him to consider leaving the club and it won’t be a shock if he decides to find a new adventure elsewhere.
According to Goal, Mainoo’s weekly salary at Old Trafford is about £25,000 which translates to an annual salary of approximately £1.3 million. He is yet to agree a new contract with Manchester United and his current deal expires in 2027.
Mainoo broke out in the 2023-24 season and was an instant hit. Scoring in the final of the FA Cup which helped Manchester United win 2-1 and playing in the final of the Euro Champions which England lost to Spain.
Mainoo is a versatile, composed, and intelligent central midfielder known for his ability to drive forward with the ball, navigate tight spaces with skillful dribbling, and distribute accurate passes under pressure. He excels in tight areas and is comfortable playing both as a defensive linchpin and in a more advanced box-to-box role.
Dribbling: Mainoo is a very good player generally and keeps it simple most of the time. He is not a ball carrying midfielder but one who is adept at short passes and quick feet to evade opponents which create opportunities.
Passing: He is a good passer of the ball, even under pressure, and can distribute the ball effectively to teammates but needs to develop his final balls in the attacking third.
Decision Making: For a young lad he is very composed on the pitch and has demonstrated maturity beyond his years. His poise on the ball, rarely making rushed decisions and often displaying good vision and anticipation is top notch.
Versatility: The England international can play as a holding midfielder and a playmaker because of his ability to keep the ball and connect passes with teammates.
Consistency in Longer Passes: While his shorter passes are very good, he needs to improve on his longer passes, particularly through balls.
Defensive Positioning: He is not strong defensively and his lack of pace slows him down from covering the areas of the pitch that are of danger to his side.
However, injuries slowed him down and since his return. He has been behind Casemiro, Manual Ugarte, Bruno Fernandez, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order.
As a result, he hasn’t been called up for England and if he wants to change that, he would have to leave Manchester United.
Mainoo is currently with the rest of the Red Devils squad for the second phase of their Pre-season tour in the United States.
