Manchester United have reopened talks with Kobbie Mainoo over a new contract as they look to ward off transfer interest from Chelsea, according to reports.
Mainoo still has over two years on his current deal but previous negotiations over an extension stalled late last year.
Those developments then saw Premier League rivals Chelsea linked with a shock move for Mainoo should the Red Devils decide to cash-in on their prize academy asset.
Under Profit and Sustainability rules, the sale of homegrown players represents pure profit in an accounting sense and could help raise vital funds for the Red Devils’ latest rebuild under Amorim.
However, the Daily Mail now reports that the club have reoped talks with Mainoo’s representatives as they look to tie down his long-term future to the club.
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It is said that the midfielder, currently out with injury, will demand a pay rise to around £180,000-a-week, a salary in line with many other first-team regulars in Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Should United fail to agree terms on a new deal and pay rise for the 19-year-old, however, the club will likely have to fend off summer approaches with a number of clubs set to revive their interest in Mainoo.
In January, the club also saw interest develop in Alejandro Garnacho – another academy product – although a deal was never agreed despite heavy interest from Chelsea and Napoli.
And while the club is not actively looking to sell either player, Amorim has often been frank about the tough decisions that may have to be made given their situation.
‘Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club,’ Amorim said back in January.
‘But we know the position that this club is in at this moment, we will see but I really like our players, especially from our academy. I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving and also Garnacho.’
‘The focus is that we have to improve our academy. And you have to bring more [through]. That is something that all the clubs in England have to take advantage of.
‘The players that come from their academies. To play, to feel the shirt, but also to sell them. So our focus is to bring more [through].’
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