Manchester United would reluctantly consider selling homegrown players, such as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, as part of their efforts to comply with football’s financial rules.
The club are not actively looking to sanction the exit of either talent but the reality of their situation means the possibility cannot be discounted if suitable offers arrive.
Having both come through United’s youth setup, midfielder Mainoo, 19, and winger Garnacho, 20, are among those who would represent pure accounting profit if they were ever to be traded.
The same applies to homegrown team-mates like Marcus Rashford, 27, although his situation differs in that United are consciously working on exit solutions, plus the out-of-favour forward has said he is “ready for a new challenge and the next steps”.
Read more: Follow the latest news on the January transfer window with The Athletic.
That is not the case in relation to Mainoo or Garnacho. Both appear to form part of head coach Ruben Amorim’s plans, despite Garnacho joining Rashford in being left out of United’s squad for the recent derby at Manchester City.
But there is uncertainty over Mainoo’s future, given his contract expires in the summer of 2027 — it includes an option to extend by 12 months — and there have so far been no developments over a new contract for the England international.
Garnacho signed a new deal last year that tied the Argentine down until June 2028.
Both men are unlikely to be short of suitors and Mainoo has been linked by the Daily Mail with a switch to Chelsea. There is admiration for him at Stamford Bridge but the same applies to many players and nothing concrete is unfolding on that as yet.
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The Athletic has spoken to a number of people familiar with the situation, all of whom will remain anonymous to protect relationships, to try to explain what’s going on…
What’s Mainoo’s contract situation?
Mainoo signed his first major United contract in February 2023, with terms expiring in 2027 plus the option to extend by 12 months. He had only made three senior appearances when he put pen to paper and since then, Mainoo’s status in the team has grown significantly. He played 41 times for club and country last season, including starting the FA Cup and Euro 2024 finals.
Garnacho and Mainoo celebrate winning the FA Cup in May (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
It is believed his current terms included in-built pay rises over time, but he is not among the team’s top earners. This is another factor to consider were he to be sold — any replacement may be expected to earn a higher salary. So far there have been no developments over fresh terms for Mainoo.
Laurie Whitwell
How strong is Chelsea’s interest in Mainoo?
Chelsea hold Mainoo in high regard and he is on a list of possible transfer targets. But it is no more than that right now.
As you would expect, Chelsea have compiled a lengthy dossier of players they are looking at as potential signings for the future as they look to tweak the squad this year and in 2026.
The teenager is not yet seen as a priority for this month and no bids have been made. But naturally when it is a young England international of this calibre, it is a situation they will keep monitoring.
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With Romeo Lavia expected to return to the squad this weekend following a hamstring injury, Chelsea will have more options again to help Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in midfield.
They have also earmarked Andrey Santos to be part of the squad for the 2025-26 campaign, although he has high-profile suitors in Europe, with his season-long loan at Strasbourg coming to an end.
Simon Johnson
How has Mainoo performed under Amorim?
Mainoo has featured in eight of Amorim’s 13 matches in charge of United, but has taken some time to establish himself as a starter within the head coach’s 3-4-3 system.
Part of this is down to squad rotation, as Amorim does not believe many players within the United squad have the requisite physicality to play his preferred style of football for 90 minutes every week. Mainoo has started five of Amorim’s nine Premier League matches but only completed a full match twice. There are also question marks over whether Mainoo — who is a technically secure ball carrier but lacks top-level athleticism — is well suited to working in Amorim’s central midfield.
Solid performances against Manchester City and Liverpool suggest, however, he has the brains to pair well with another player willing to provide the brawn. A budding midfield partnership with Manuel Ugarte appears in the works, and if the 19-year-old could further develop his progressive passing skills, he could help take his team to another level, especially when breaking down stubborn defensive blocks.
Carl Anka
What’s Garnacho’s contract situation?
United are protected on value over Garnacho, whose current terms expire in 2028. He signed a new contract in April 2023, after he had scored four goals for the first team and played more than 30 games, so his deal is reflective of his position in the squad at that time.
He has improved since then, and grown in status, so at some stage talks on a new deal would need to take place. But the situation is not as pressing as others at United.
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How has Garnacho performed under Amorim?
Garnacho was dropped from United’s matchday squad for the Manchester derby, along with Rashford, with Amorim citing poor performances in training. He has since made a handful of second-half cameos but the teenager has not established a favoured position in Amorim’s 3-4-3.
Garnacho has been in and out of the team under Amorim (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
He is one of several players who have been rotated in as one of the No 10/inside forwards behind the striker without being truly outstanding in the role. A handful of his substitute appearances have come as a wing-back, but the teenager understandably lacks some of the defensive nuances required to marshal an entire flank by himself.
The 20-year-old’s direct running and ability to get shots away means he will always hold appeal as an attacking option to come off the bench and test tired legs in the second half of games. While he has featured in 11 of Amorim’s 13 matches in charge of United, only four appearances have come from the start.
Carl Anka
Why might Manchester United want to sell them, and who else could be in the frame to leave?
Barely a discussion about potential incomings or outgoings can go by at Old Trafford these days without the acronyms ‘PSR’ and ‘FFP’ cropping up along the way.
United are confident they remain compliant with the Premier League and UEFA’s financial regulations, but last season ended with yet another loss to the tune of £113.2million — their fifth consecutive year in the red.
After spending around £200m during the summer, United must now sell to buy if they want to reinforce at first-team level. Letting Mainoo or Garnacho leave would have the added benefit of representing ‘pure profit’, or close to it, in the accounting books because they are homegrown players — i.e. there was no transfer fee involved in bringing them to Old Trafford.
Selling Rashford would carry the same advantage and would also clear significantly more space on United’s wage bill, but there is a lack of permanent suitors for the 27-year-old. Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs considering a loan.
Casemiro is another high earner whose exit would help matters, while Antony has attracted loan interest. Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with a move away but wants to stay and fight for his place after a challenging start.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
