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Afolabi Ezekiel - January 11, 2025
Manchester United might be open to selling homegrown talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho if a club submits an appropriate proposal, which is necessary due to the financial rules. The club is not actively seeking to sell either, but their financial status means this will not be out of the question.
The Financial Context
Mainoo (19) and Garnacho (20) who have been products of the United youth academy and, as such, if sold, could bring in huge accounting profit since they were signed from within. This leaves them less “immune” to acquisition than other players; open game if the right bid comes their way. However, they are not sure of the future at the respective club, and there is much more to it than just selling them.
Mainoo’s Current Status and Contract
Kobbie Mainoo has an active contract with the club up to the year 2027 with a possibility to add one more year. His appearances last season was a season best for him as he featured 41 times, starting in the FA Cup final and Euro 2024 finals. Even though he has provisions for increase of his wages as the contract with the team extends, he is not among the best paid players at the club. It has been shaken by no advancements about the new deal; his future is cloudy.
Chelsea has been linked with a possible interest in Mainoo, and the young talent is believed to be on the Blues’ list of youngsters to sign in the future. However, there have been no bids and as things stand Chelsea has other things on their mind. The club is still watching the situation due to the possibilities that Mainoo is a young English prospect. For the moment, Chelsea’s attention might not be set on Mainoo – other midfield options are coming back to the team — however, they will probably monitor him.
Under Ruben Amorim, Mainoo has played in eight of United’s thirteen games. He has played five Premier League games; however, his appearances have been somewhat sporadic on account of rotation. Amorim’s system expects players capable of withstanding his aggressive style of play and whether or not Mainoo fits this mold is still up for debate. Nonetheless, in matches against Manchester City and Liverpool, Mainoo has demonstrated positively, and with Ugarte, he has a potential partnership.
Garnacho’s Current Status and Contract
Alejandro Garnacho who recently extended his stay with United until 2028 as per the deal signed in April 2023. At the moment there is no demand to sign a new deal, nevertheless the future conversations may arise while Garnacho continues to develop. Garnacho has not been a constant starter under Amorim as he used to be under Erik Ten Hag. After being left out of the squad for the Manchester derby, he has only made a handful of substitute appearances. Despite his direct running and ability to create chances, Garnacho has not yet found a consistent position within Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
Why Manchester United Might Sell Mainoo and Garnacho
To an extent, stagnated revenues and the necessity to adhere to the rules of financial fair play could tempt Manchester United to sell players such as Mainoo and Garnacho. Of course, United’s finances have long been an issue, and last season the club posted a £113.2m loss. To strengthen the squad more, particularly after they signed players for £200 million in the summer, United has to sell players. Offloading homegrown players like Mainoo and Garnacho would represent “pure profit” for the club, given there was no initial transfer fee involved in their arrivals.
Conclusion
The management of Manchester United is not looking for a way to offload either Mainoo or Garnacho, but the financial status of the club may compel them to sell the two players. The fact that both players are homegrown suggests that any potential sale would feature some considerable positive accounting consequences, and there are likely to be bidders. Still, for the time being, their futures are unknown, and United will have to be thoughtful of their plans in the future.
