Man Utd make decision after Kobbie Mainoo hands in transfer request

Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave Manchester United on loan (Picture: Getty)

Kobbie Mainoo has told Manchester United he wants to leave the club on a loan move before the summer transfer window closes.

Mainoo was an unused substitute in United’s first two Premier League games of the season before playing the entirety of the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.

Unhappy with his lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim, Mainoo has requested to leave Manchester United on loan before the transfer deadline.

The Athletic say Mainoo, 20, informed United bosses of his desire to seal a loan move at a meeting on Thursday.

However, Manchester United have already rejected Mainoo’s request, telling him they will not sanction a loan.

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They tried to reassure the midfielder that they value him highly and believe he should stay and fight for his place in Amorim’s team.

Mainoo, who joined the Manchester United academy at the age of nine, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023-24 under Erik ten Hag.

Mainoo got his first minutes of the new season against Grimsby Town (Picture: Getty)

The youngster ended that campaign as one of Ten Hag’s most important players, scoring in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City and then impressive for England at that summer’s Euros.

Mainoo started the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain but his career has stagnated since then, with Amorim appearing to have reservations over the player.

Amorim has questioned whether Mainoo has the physicality to play in a holding midfield role and favours the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount in more advanced roles.

As a result Mainoo remained on the bench for Manchester United’s opening two Premier League games against Arsenal and Fulham.

Old Trafford manager Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)

Mainoo cannot afford to continue to be on the periphery as he has aspirations of making Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Tuchel will name his latest Three Lions squad on Friday for the September World Cup qualifiers but Mainoo is unlikely to feature given his lack of minutes.

With Mainoo growing frustrated at Old Trafford, up to ten clubs have expressed interest in securing a deal, including Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Ten Hag is also believed to be keen on a reunion with Mainoo at Bayer Leverkusen, but the finances of the deal appear to be beyond the German club.

Mainoo started England’s Euro 2024 final defeat (Picture: Getty)

Mainoo is contracted to Manchester United until 2027 but a move appears inevitable unless the England star is given more game-time.

Explaining Mainoo’s lack of minutes so far this season, Amorim said he is now in direct competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes for a central midfield role.

‘He is fighting for the position now with Bruno,’ Amorim said after United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham last weekend.

‘And I change to two midfielders, I left Mason Mount there because we want to score a goal and when I change I felt the team needs to have one holding midfielder near Bruno.

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‘So he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno like it should be at Manchester United.’

While United have blocked Mainoo from leaving before the transfer deadline, they have agreed deals to sell Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.

The Red Devils are also hoping to offload Jadon Sancho and Antony before the summer transfer window shuts on Monday night.

Amorim’s side will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday when newly-promoted Burnley visit Old Trafford.

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