Manchester United will consider selling Koby Mainu in January only if they receive an exceptional offer.
The club does not want to sell him and is equally reluctant to let him leave on loan.
A number of Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in him, but only a handful can afford to sign him on a permanent contract.
Sky Sports News report that the 20-year-old is a key part of Ruben Amorim’s plans and there is widespread desire to remain at Old Trafford, believing he will develop as he gets older.
What is unpredictable, however, is how the player himself will react if Mainu remains on the fringes of the first team, and how this will affect the club’s decision-making.
The academy graduate is yet to start a Premier League game this season, and his younger brother posed for a photo at Old Trafford on Monday night wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Free Coby Mainu’, which went viral on social media.
The young midfielder came on against Bournemouth with 30 minutes remaining, to great cheers from the home supporters.
Jordan Mainu Hames wore a ‘Free Coby Mainu’ T-shirt during the Manchester United vs Bournemouth match (Jordan Mainu Hames/Instagram)
Mainu is clearly still very popular with United fans and has struggled to get his form down, clearly frustrated by his lack of playing time since being a regular under manager Erik ten Hag and starting in the heart of England’s midfield in last summer’s European Championship final in Berlin.
Mainoo won the last of his 10 caps for England in September 2024 but is yet to feature under new England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
He has never played more than 30 minutes in a Premier League game for United since, apart from playing the full second half against Burnley in August. His only 90-minute appearance came in the unfortunate defeat against Grimsby Town, where United were eliminated in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
However, Amorim has made it clear that he has no doubts about Mainu’s talent, rather the head coach has stated that the choice is clear between Mainu and United’s captain at this time.
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim defended his decision not to play Koby Mainu and other academy players after their side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League.
“We are playing with two midfielders,” Amorim said. “It could change in the future, but Koby Mainu plays in the same position as Bruno Fernandes and it is sometimes very difficult to remove Bruno Fernandes from the team. That is the only reason.”
Asked if he thought highly of Mainu, Amorim added: “Of course, just like everyone else.”
For United’s hierarchy, it makes no economic sense to let Mainu go on loan.
Having been through the ages at United, his salary is relatively low compared to other players in the first team and there is little incentive for other teams to cover his wages.
Furthermore, if he were to go on loan next month, United would have to replace him to provide additional cover in midfield for the remainder of the season. That is likely to mean it will cost more to bring in a new player, who may not be as accustomed to United’s environment as Mainu.
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On Saturday’s Sky Sports social show, Fuad Qadani and Faisal discuss whether Koby Mainu should leave Manchester United after failing to start a single Premier League game this season.
Keane urges Mainu to fight for Manchester spot
Meanwhile, manager Roy Keane has urged Mainu to fight for his place at Manchester United.
Former United captain Keane told the Stick to Football podcast: “Are you saying you can’t sit out for another six months?”
“He may be thinking that in the summer we might be without a manager and we might be without one or two senior players.
“He’s only 20 years old. What’s wrong with sitting down and learning your job? We’ve all had to do it at different levels, even if we didn’t get the chance.
“Sometimes your manager gets involved in your case, and all you have to do is look at your manager and say, ‘I’m going to prove you wrong.’
“Every day is a challenge to prove to the manager. When that manager picks a team, I’m going to train like a beast. And when (as a manager) writes that team, you think, ‘He has to play.’ He has to put that into his mindset.”
“And when he’s having his stupid brother do something like that… we shouldn’t even give his brother the time of day. Sometimes you’re surrounded by stupid people, especially family members.
‘Mynu has to bide his time at United’
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Nicky Butt admits he is worried about Koby Mainu, who has struggled to feature this season under manager Ruben Amorim.
“The life of a footballer is to try to prove people wrong,” added Keane, speaking of Mainu, who is competing with Fernandes for a place in Amorim’s starting XI.
“Bruno might get injured. There was talk of Bruno leaving in the summer. Bruno might leave next summer. So as a young player it would be better to wait.”
“I have no problem with players going out on loan and that would work for everyone, but the biggest challenge as a player is to break into the first team here at Man United.
“Even if the manager says, “You’re not going to come in ahead of Bruno,” (which should be your mindset), “I’ll prove you wrong.”
