Amorim verdict on Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd future as Chelsea move gathers pace

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged he cannot guarantee that 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo will remain at the club beyond this month.

The highly-rated England midfielder, valued at £60 million and a target for Chelsea, could be sacrificed as the Red Devils look to stay within the Premier League’s financial regulations.

Mainoo is currently in a contract impasse, seeking a pay rise and an extension to his £20,000-a-week deal, which runs until 2027.

Amorim expressed his desire to retain the talented youngster but admitted the club’s financial situation complicates matters.

“Our idea is always to keep our best players, but we also know it is a difficult situation for the club, a hard moment,” Amorim said.

“I am really happy with Kobbie—he is improving all the time. My players are always my favorite players, and I always like to keep them, especially the talented ones.”

United are navigating tight Profit and Sustainability rules, which cap Premier League clubs’ allowable losses at £105 million over three years.

Academy products like Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford represent "pure profit" on the balance sheet, making them potential sacrifices to balance the books.

Garnacho, 20, is another academy graduate whose sale could help United fund new signings.

Rashford, meanwhile, is attracting interest from AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund as he seeks a new challenge.

Amorim has previously stated that player sales are necessary before the club can bring in reinforcements.

The manager has been linked with targets including Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, and Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes.

Rashford has missed United’s last six games after expressing his desire for a fresh challenge.

When asked about Rashford’s potential return for tomorrow’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal, Amorim remained non-committal.

“We will see. They are available, they are training,” Amorim said, as he looked forward to the "history" and "tradition" of his first FA Cup match in England.

With United sitting 13th in the Premier League, Amorim faces the challenge of improving his squad while navigating financial constraints.

Selling key academy players like Mainoo or Garnacho could provide the funds needed to reshape the team, but it would come at the cost of losing homegrown talent.