Kobbie Mainoo 'to reject Man Utd' as unexpected new transfer emerges

The midfielder has left United chiefs stunned.

Kobbie Mainoo is set to leave England.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is set to move abroad after reportedly rejecting the offer of a new deal. The 19-year-old still has two years left on his current contract, but his future has been the subject of speculation since the arrival of Ruben Amorim.

Along with fellow academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho, the England star was linked with a move to Chelsea in January. That followed him struggling to make the same impact as last season, having also shone for England at Euro 2024. He has been deployed in an unfamiliar defensive role by Amorim in this campaign, with the Portuguese boss insisting injuries had forced him to play Mainoo out of position.

According to the Guardian, Mainoo has now turned down the chance to extend his stay at Old Trafford. It follows prolonged talks with the club, with his representatives seeking a big increase on his £20,000-per-week wages.

But the Red Devils aren’t about to lose him to a Premier League rival, with the player said to prefer a move elsewhere in Europe. United would need to sell this summer in order to maximise any fee, with his valuation likely to drop as the end of his deal gets closer.

The club is thought to value the youngster at around £70million, and given that he has come through the club ranks, a sale would hugely benefit their standing with Financial Fair Play.

However, letting Mainoo go is also likely to spark a backlash with fans growing increasingly exasperated with the reign of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. United lie 14th in the table with the Europa League now signifying their ony hopes of both a trophy and European football again next season.

Mainoo, who has 10 England caps, is considered a huge long-term prospect at Old Trafford. He achieved cult hero status after scoring in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City, and was a regular under Amorim before picking up a calf injury against Tottenham in February.

The latest development will spark fears that he has played his last game for the club, which he first joined as a six-year-old. Mainoo is not due back until mid-April, and given the way Amorim treated Marcus Rashford after he expressed a desire to leave, the manager could well exile the star from the first-team squad if he is also set to depart.