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Chelsea are leading the race to sign Kobbie Mainoo in a sensational deal if the Manchester United midfielder leaves Old Trafford.
United have reached an impasse in contract negotiations with Mainoo’s representatives, alerting Europe’s top clubs to the fact that he could be sold this month or, more likely, at the end of the season.
Mail Sport understands Chelsea are ready to move for the 19-year-old if they cannot agree new terms, although they would face competition from Premier League rivals and overseas clubs.
United are hopeful a compromise can be reached so they can keep their £65million homegrown star.
Mainoo is almost halfway through a contract that ties him to United until June 2027, but is believed to want a new deal worth around £200,000 a week, including bonuses reflecting his status as a regular first-team player and established England international. That is also believed to be Chelsea’s salary ceiling.
However, United are trying to reduce their wage bill during this month’s transfer window by offloading big earners such as Casemiro on £375,000 a week, Marcus Rashford on £315,000 and Antony on £200,000.
Chelsea lead the race to sign Kobbie Mainoo if he leaves Manchester United
Mail Sport understands Todd Boehly’s Chelsea are leading the race to snap up Mainoo if he leaves Old Trafford.
United have reached an impasse in contract negotiations with Mainoo’s representatives, putting Chelsea and other European giants on red alert.
The budget constraint has hampered negotiations with Mainoo, who believes he can achieve better terms elsewhere.
He is also believed to be concerned about the direction of the club and its chances of playing in the Champions League, with Ruben Amorim’s side 13th in the Premier League standings.
After a great season under Erik ten Hag, Mainoo has had a dip in form this season, but underlined his potential as one of the country’s best midfielders with his recent performances against Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Stockport teenager is a model of United’s famous academy and had previously been seen as unsellable. But the club’s financial problems and the struggle to comply with profit and sustainability rules – under which local players are worth four times as much as other players – have made his exit possible.
It is one of the reasons why United are more open to letting Rashford go this month and would also consider selling Alejandro Garnacho.
Man United have also considered letting Alejandro Garnacho, another academy graduate, go.
If they had to choose between Mainoo and Garnacho, United would prefer to sell the Argentine winger, who is struggling to fit into Amorim’s 3-4-3 system and has been on the bench for the last five games.
The only members of the squad considered untouchable are £59m summer signing Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo, who is close to signing a new contract. United hope to cut almost a million pounds a week from the wage bill by allowing Casemiro, Rashford and Antony to leave this month.
Casemiro has been linked with Saudi club Al Nassr, where he would join his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, while Olympiacos and Real Betis have shown interest in signing Antony on loan.
AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham all want to loan Rashford, but any deal would depend on what proportion of his salary United are willing to pay, as well as the size of the fee if there is an obligation to buy him.
