Ruben Amorim sends blunt message to Sir Jim Ratcliffe over Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd exit

Ruben Amorim says he wants to keep Kobbie Mainoo - but admits it could be hard for Manchester United to keep their home-grown talents.

Amorim acknowledged United face a "hard moment" in terms of keeping academy graduates, including exiled striker Marcus Rashford.

Mainoo is in talks with United about a new deal, but profit and sustainability rules [PSR] - where academy players count as pure profit on the balance sheet - has raised the prospect of United cashing in on the England midfielder.

Chelsea are monitoring Mainoo's contract situation, in the knowledge United would find it impossible to turn down a bid in the region of £70million for the 19-year-old starlet.

Mainoo is currently on £20,000-a-week at United, with his representatives wanting a pay hike to take his salary to £180,000-a-week.

United are confident they can agree a compromise figure with Mainoo's camp, with Amorin reaffirming his desire to keep the midfielder.

"My players are always my favourites," said Amorim. "I really love my players, I want to keep them, especially the talented ones.

"It’s a hard moment, but I'm really happy with Kobbie, he is improving.

"Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club, but we know the position the club is in at the moment [in terms of PSR]. We will see. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy.

Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

"Sometimes the profile for this system is different and the players here came here with a different idea how to play.

"I don’t remember to say that so clearly that I want new players. We need to improve recruitment when we are targeting players, we need to be sure they will cope with demands.

"We have to improve our academy, with young kids that feel the club in the right way, and with those rules do some business to have many to invest in the team.

"Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club but we know the position the club is in at the moment. We will see. I really like the players, especially the guys from the academy.

Asked if Rashford, who has not been a part of United's last five matchday squads, will travel with the group for Sunday's FA Cup tie at Arsenal, Amorim said: "We will see, guys. Let’s focus on the game. He is available, he is training, we will see for this game."

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