Shock Premier League club 'emerge as favourites' to sign Man Utd star Kobbie Mainoo in transfer no-one saw coming

A Premier League club are reportedly “leading the chase” to sign Kobbie Mainoo if he were to leave Manchester United.

Mainoo, 19, is an academy graduate and burst onto the scene during the 2023/24 season, scoring in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool back in April as well as netting the winner in the 2-1 FA Cup final victory against Manchester City at Wembley in May.

However, this term he has made less of an impact having suffered an ankle injury during pre-season in July, meaning he was sidelined until late October.

But there were signs of an improvement during United’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

He and Manuel Ugarte put in a solid performance against a Liverpool midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister.

Now, the Mail’s Chris Wheeler reports that Chelsea are “leading the chase for Mainoo”.

The report suggests that the player and club are thought to be in a "stalemate" regarding a new deal. The article claims that the player is thought to be "concerned" with the direction of the club, with United currently 13th in the division. Mainoo currently earns £20,000 per week, according to Capology and believes he "could command better terms" at another side.

On Sunday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein also discussed the prospect of the England international moving on from his boyhood club.

Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with Chelsea (Credit:Getty)

“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.”

Of course, most United fans will not want to see such a promising youngster leave but a sale would represent 'pure profit' from a PSR standpoint due to Mainoo being an academy graduate.

United are reportedly operating under strict financial parameters in the January transfer window, with the MEN's Samuel Luckhurst reporting that the club need to "sell to buy". United previously did business with Chelsea last summer, when Jadon Sancho joined the Blues on a season-long loan.