Kobbie Mainoo could be on the way out at Old Trafford this summer, with his Manchester United contract remaining unresolved.
As exclusively revealed by TBR Football, Tottenham have asked about signing Mainoo amid the uncertainty of his future under Ruben Amorim.
According to reports elsewhere, Mainoo’s representatives aren’t asking for an unreasonable salary from United, which is why the youngster will be even more frustrated.
The Red Devils are looking to add further reinforcements to their midfield, which could force the 20-year-old further down the pecking order.
Amid speculation over a move to North London, an image posted on the midfielder’s Instagram has resurfaced, which will only fuel transfer talk.
When Kobbie Mainoo posted himself in a Tottenham kit
Back in April, Kobbie Mainoo stunned Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United supporters when he posted an image of himself as a child wearing a Spurs shirt.
The midfielder was celebrating his 20th birthday and posted an old image on his Instagram wearing Tottenham’s third shirt from the 1995/96 season.
The image is even more baffling, given that the shirt would have been well over ten years old when the image was taken.
It’s worth noting that Mainoo has not mentioned anything about the move, however, it’s quite interesting to see him in Spurs colours following the latest links.
Thomas Frank is keen to add a number six to his midfield this summer and the Manchester United academy graduate could be the perfect option.
Spurs require homegrown players and Mainoo would, of course, tick that box, which will only add to his transfer value.
TBR Football has also revealed that Tottenham are talking to Joao Palhinha about a move away from Bayern Munich.
The Portuguese international is ten years Mainoo’s senior, so it would be quite a change in plans to go from the United starlet to Palhinha.
Mainoo’s career at Old Trafford so far has been rather stop-start due to injuries following what was an impressive breakout campaign in 2023/24 from the youngster.
Michael Carrick believes that it is natural for young players to have dips in form, and he just needs the right people around him to keep believing in him.
For the 20-year-old, that could even involve a move away, given his struggles to work his way into Amorim’s plans at United.
Carrick told Rio Ferdinand Presents: “I think it’s pretty normal, I had it in my third year, I was at West Ham, I was terrible.
“I came out of the England squad, I just couldn’t pull it together. I’m not saying he’s terrible, Mainoo – I think it’s a little bit different for him. Some players can have that at the time.
“I think you need stubbornness to stick at it and keep believing, it’s tough at times and I think you need people to stick with you, believe in you.
“I think we’re quite quick to season to season or every six months to say, ‘ah he’s good’, ‘ah he’s not good enough’. I think we were given a lot more time.”