Thanks to Carrick! Manchester United Rewards Young Stars with Long-Term Contracts

Manchester United are preparing to enter an important phase in overhauling their midfield, but in the midst of plans to bring in new players, one certainty is starting to strengthen: Kobbie Mainoo has returned to being a central figure and is now projected as a very high value asset for the club.

United’s main focus next summer will be on the central sector. After previously prioritizing improving the attack line, the club plans to recruit two new midfielders. One of them is being prepared to replace Casemiro, whose contract will expire at the end of the season. Manuel Ugarte is also expected to leave, making the composition of United’s midfield potentially change drastically when entering the 2026/2027 season.

However, the situation feels different compared to six weeks ago. During that period, the future of several midfield pillars was shrouded in question marks. Bruno Fernandes is again rumored to be able to leave, while Mainoo’s chances of developing under coach Ruben Amorim look minimal. Now, that situation has reversed direction.

Fernandes looks comfortable again and it is believed that the possibility of appearing in the Champions League will make the captain stay. At the same time, Mainoo has actually experienced the most striking transformation, especially since gaining full trust from Michael Carrick.

Mainoo is once again a differentiator in the field

The midfielder who graduated from United’s academy not only returned to the first team, but also showed a performance that reminded the public of his big breakthrough in the second half of the 2023/2024 season. In the victory over Tottenham last weekend, Mainoo appeared dominant and was considered the best player on the field.

Carrick sees Mainoo’s development as a natural process of a young player starting to find his rhythm. He considers Mainoo’s age and experience in big matches to be important assets in establishing game consistency.

According to Carrick, playing side by side with Casemiro also had a big impact. Mainoo absorbed many lessons, without even realizing it, just by being on the field with experienced players. Carrick emphasized that fluctuations in performance are normal for young players, and what is important is how the club manages this process.

Currently, Carrick assesses that Mainoo is in a positive phase. His contribution is felt in the match and the coaching staff will continue to assist him so that his development is maintained.

Long Contract, Role Already First Class

Behind this impressive performance, there is quite a striking irony. Mainoo is still one of the lowest-paid players in the squad as he is still under the contract he signed as a 17-year-old in February 2023. Although his return to the first team activates a number of bonuses, his value remains well below that of many of his teammates.

Now, this situation wants to be corrected immediately. From the start, United never intended to let Mainoo go. Once his position is strong again in the team, club management plans to open talks on a new contract as a form of recognition of his role. The target is that the agreement can be reached before the season ends.

This step is considered crucial ahead of the transfer market. With recent performance, Mainoo is almost always the first choice in the line-up. If Fernandes occupies the number 10 role, then only one position remains in United’s best midfield, which could potentially be filled by a new player like Elliot Anderson.

The Long Term Foundation of United’s Midfield

Whatever United’s maneuvers in the transfer market, securing Mainoo’s future could be the most important decision. He is not only a symbol of the academy’s success in recent years, but also a midfielder of high quality when given the trust.

Mainoo is only 20 years old and still has great potential. He even felt the pressure of the top match by appearing as a starter in the European Championship final when he was 18 years old. With more than a year remaining on his contract and a 12-month extension option, United realized that a new contract was still needed.

If the deal is completed before the summer, United will enter the transfer window with a major job already done. Mainoo can also move to the next stage as the main pillar of the club’s midfield in the long term.