Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he wants to keep Kobbie Mainoo at the club – but offered no guarantees it will actually happen.
The England midfielder, 19, was linked with Chelsea earlier this week amid a continuing stand-off over his proposed contract extension.
United officials say they have been concentrating on securing the futures of Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo, who had been free to talk to overseas clubs from 1 January.
That pair have now agreed extensions but Mainoo remains on his existing contract, which still has two-and-a-half years run.
Sources close to the teenager feel they are in a strong position to agree a hefty increase given his enhanced status as an international and regular member of United’s starting line-up under Amorim and, previously, Erik ten Hag.
However, the issue is complicated by what United acknowledge to be a ‘tight’ situation regarding profit and sustainability and the knowledge that selling homegrown players creates greater flexibility to sign players under the Premier League’s financial rules, which the Old Trafford outfit are committed to.
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we build for this club,” said Amorim before the FA Cup trip to Arsenal on Sunday.
“But we know the position the club is in at the moment. We will see.”
