David Ornstein drops concerning Kobbie Mainoo update that no Man Utd fan expected to hear

Manchester United fans will be concerned with David Ornstein’s most recent update on Kobbie Mainoo’s future.

Mainoo, 19, put in arguably his best performance of the season alongside Manuel Ugarte during United’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

However, this term, he has failed to reach the levels he showed during his breakout campaign under Erik ten Hag in 2023/24.

The Stockport-born midfielder impressed fans during his debut campaign and scored some huge goals, including a stunning strike in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April 2024, as well as putting in a Man of the Match performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final triumph in May, scoring the winning goal.

Despite his small downturn in form, in a season interrupted by an ankle injury that kept him out until late October, at 19, Mainoo is regarded as one of the most promising young players in world football.

The club have a strong tradition of bringing academy graduates into the first-team squad, with a homegrown player being named in every matchday squad since 1937.

However, several homegrown talents have been forced to leave the club in recent years. The sale of an academy graduate represents ‘pure profit’ when looked at from a PSR point of view.

Kobbie Mainoo performed well against Liverpool (Credit:Getty)

Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood have left the club in the last year or so, with Marcus Rashford also linked with a move elsewhere. And the Atheltic’s Ornstein has issued a worrying update on Mainoo’s situation.

“If a departure is going to happen [for Rashford], a sale in particular, maybe it’s more likely in the summer, but it would represent pure profit, something we hear about so much, because he was an academy graduate,” Ornstein explained when speaking on NBC on Sunday.

“In the same way that Kobbie Mainoo might be, he’s out of contract in 2027 – no news on a new deal.

“Alejandro Garnacho too, I don’t think anybody in that bracket is off the table. Who is, is somebody like Leny Yoro, like Amad Diallo – I think they are untouchable.

“In terms of Amorim, Manchester United’s hierarchy, they fully support him; they back him to lead this transformation of the club.”