Kobbie Mainoo has informed Manchester United he wants to leave on loan before the transfer window closes next week as he looks to play regularly.
Despite his impressive form since breaking out of United’s academy, Mainoo has started the 2025/26 season on the bench. The England international sat on the bench for the team’s opening Premier League games.
United manager Ruben Amorim also confirmed that the 20-year-old have others like Bruno Fernandes above him in the midfield pecking order.
Kobbie Mainoo has started the season on the bench (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
As a result Mainoo wants to leave for the season, especially with a World Cup coming up this summer. Mainoo made it clear to the club’s bosses on Thursday that he has no intention to cut ties permanently, but does want to further his development and believes that sitting on the bench is not serving that ambition.
Despite the United star laying all this out, his club have told him that they have no intention of sanctioning his loan exit.
Instead they made it clear that he is valued and the expectation is that he remains and fights for his place, reports the Athletic. Chelsea are among the clubs to have been linked in the past whilst Bayern Munich too have kept tabs on the situation, but never put in a bid.
Erik Ten Hag who gave Mainoo his debut, was keen to reunite with him at Bayer Leverkusen but a deal was never feasible.
Mainoo signed a new deal in February 2023 and his existing United contract runs to 2027, with the option of an extra year, and includes pay rises depending on performances.
