Kobbie Mainoo 'postpones' Man Utd contract talks despite plan to quadruple wages

Kobbie Mainoo is set to sign a lucrative new contract at Manchester United, but the teenage sensation reportedly wants to shelve negotiating the final details until after Euro 2024. Mainoo has been named in Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad and, following a superb breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford, he is expected to make the final 26-man cut.

The youngster is already contracted to the Red Devils for at least the next three years, but club chiefs are keen to reward him for dragging Erik ten Hag’s side through the second half of a difficult 2023/24 season.

According to The Daily Star, United are preparing to quadruple Mainoo’s wages, which would put him on £80,000 a week. However, the 19-year-old is in no rush to seal the deal as he wants to wait until after this summer’s Euros to finalise the agreement.

The contract extension is not believed to be in jeopardy as Mainoo has already agreed to it in principle. The midfield maestro can therefore head to the Euros with a renewed feeling of security as he attempts to work his way into Southgate’s starting XI.

Mainoo’s rise to stardom has been rapid, scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in last weekend’s FA Cup final, only six months after making his first Premier League start.

Although Ten Hag’s future is currently under review, Mainoo is sure to be embraced by any new manager if co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe opts for a change in the United dugout. Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel are among those linked.

With a shoestring budget to work with this summer, United will reportedly consider offers for a number of first-team players. But up-and-coming prospects like Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund are categorically not for sale.

After playing a starring role in United’s fairytale FA Cup triumph, Mainoo told the BBC: “It means absolutely everything. It’s been a tough season of ups and downs and recently all we’ve had to look forward to is this final.

“It’s so big to win it back after last year. I was in the stands watching then. It’s incredible. We knew we had to come together and the staff and players this week have been amazing. The preparation has been spot on.

“We’ve shown we can compete and we can win games, it’s such a big win on such a big stage. It’s been an incredible week after being picked in the Euro 2024 squad but right now I just want to concentrate on this, I can’t look too far ahead.”