Kobbie Mainoo is increasingly concerned about the direction of travel at Manchester United and knows he could command higher wages at other clubs.
Mainoo is still only paid around £20,000 a week at United despite emerging as one of the club's most consistent players over the past 18 months. Talks about tripling his wages at the end of last season came to nothing and a stalemate has emerged in negotiations over new terms.
That's a problem for United, who know they need to keep their impressive young trio of Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo if they want to improve under Ruben Amorim. Agreeing new terms is influenced by the rut United are currently stuck in, with their low league position causing doubt.
Chelsea are aware of Mainoo's situation and are prepared to offer the 19-year-old midfielder an escape route if he so chooses. He is under contract until June 2027, with an option for a further 12 months, but things are reportedly coming to a head.
The Daily Mail reports that Mainoo is aware that he is being offered terms that reflect his talent at other clubs. He is also reportedly concerned about United's decline, with the club currently in 13th place in the Premier League and looking at another season outside the Champions League in 2025/26.
Like other Premier League sides, United are under pressure to meet profit and sustainability rules. But unlike other clubs, they have a lot of money tied up in underperforming players with huge contracts.
United are desperately trying to offload Marcus Rashford this month in a bid to get his £325,000-a-week wages off the books. They could also receive offers in Casemiro (£350,000 per week) and Antony (£200,000 per week), but the money involved severely limits the possible destinations.
Amorim has already been told not to spend money on new players, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS hierarchy have been cutting costs since taking over in February last year. United spent £600m on transfers during Erik ten Hag's two-and-a-half year reign as manager, but his successor has been told to expect much more modest financial support.
United are under pressure to comply with PSR rules after posting a pre-tax loss of £312.9 million over the past three seasons. However, retaining homegrown talent like Mainoo remains a top priority for the club.
Mainoo has made 52 appearances for United, scoring five goals and one assist, and has become the most reliable midfielder in recent times. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen produced a disastrous performance in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle and the side were much more competitive with Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park as they secured a 2-2 draw against Liverpool last time out.
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