Manchester United are keen to hand Kobbie Mainoo a bumper new contract

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are ready to talk with the representatives of Kobbie Mainoo over a bumper contract renewal this summer.

The 19-year-old has been one of the breakout stars during a disappointing United season. His performances in big matches, including a goal-scoring one in the FA Cup final, have seen him break into the senior England setup and make the Euro squad for next month.

Mainoo’s rise in the middle of the pitch has been astronomical, drawing praises and comparisons to elites from many.

Case in point, BBC presenter and former England footballer Gary Lineker recently had this to say about Mainoo:

“The sky is the limit, I think. I’m impressed with his [Mainoo’s] remarkable maturity, [and] his confidence.

“I think he knows how good he is. He reminds me in that sense of [Jude] Bellingham. I know that’s a big shout, but he’s two years younger. I think he’s remarkably talented, I think he will feature in the Euros – I don’t know where and when. 

“Gareth [Southgate] was in the stand and everyone in the ground could see how good he was, how confident he was. You can see he’s got almost an aura about him, the right sort of confidence.”

Lineker on Mainoo, as quoted by FourFourTwo

Mainoo’s current £20k-a-week contract at United is set to run until June 2027.

Mainoo’s Bellingham comparison is not unwarranted

It’s baffling to think that Bellingham is just under two years older than Mainoo. Such has been his own astronomical rise.

The main difference between the two players’ trajectories is that, while Mainoo has been able to establish himself playing for United, Bellingham had to move away, first to Dortmund from Birmingham and then to Madrid, on his to establish himself as one of the best in the world.

Of course, Mainoo is not at that level yet, but if this season is anything to go by, he will soon reach that same stratosphere.

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Regardless of whether one cheers for England this coming Euros, it’s hard to not salivate at the prospect of seeing Mainoo and Bellingham in the Three Lions midfield together.