Kobbie Mainoo's lack of Manchester United game time deemed 'bizarre', England international keen to leave Old Trafford on loan
Updated 31/08/2025 at 13:40 GMT+1
TNT Sports pundit Ally McCoist labelled Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time at Manchester United as "bizarre". The England international is keen to leave the Old Trafford club on loan ahead of Monday's transfer deadline in search of regular football. Mainoo has featured just once from the bench in the Premier League this term, while he has started just 16 times across Ruben Amorim's United tenure.
McCoist on 'bizarre' lack of game time for Mainoo at Man Utd
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports expert Ally McCoist has labelled Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time at Manchester United as "bizarre".
Mainoo is widely reported to be keen to leave the Old Trafford club on a temporary basis in search of regular football ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
While United boss Ruben Amorim has insisted he wants the England international to stay and "fight" for his place, it remains to be seen whether The Red Devils will alter their stance before Monday’s transfer deadline.
"It's bizarre," McCoist told TNT Sports. "I don’t understand what’s going on with Kobbie Mainoo because you’d think that the way Manchester United are, he would be good enough to get into that team.
"The manager came out and effectively said he’s challenging Fernandes for that position, which I don’t think is a battle he’s going to win.
"So if he’s not going to win that battle, it doesn’t look as though he’s going to play. It’s strange. Very, very strange."
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Mainoo ‘wants to leave’ amid intense interest but Man Utd say 'he’s going nowhere’ – Ornstein
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mainoo played the full 90 minutes of United’s bruising EFL Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Grimsby Town on Wednesday, but has made just one substitute appearance for the club so far in the the Premier League, in a 3-2 victory over Burnley.
While the 20-year-old has a contract at United until 2027, the BBC claims negotiations over an extension have stalled.
Transfer guru David Ornstein told TNT Sports that Mainoo’s departure from Old Trafford is unlikely as things stand.
"Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave on loan, no doubt about it," Ornstein said live on TNT Sports on Saturday before Chelsea's 2-0 win over Fulham. "Manchester United do not intend to sanction his departure.
"You never know if a whopping big transfer offer comes in, it could happen in football, but they'd need a replacement as well.
"It's extremely difficult and there are many clubs that would like to sign Kobbie Mainoo.
"But at the moment, he's going nowhere. Could they bring in a midfielder? Maybe on loan before the deadline. That's on the recruitment agenda, whether that's now or in the future."
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United scores from the penalty spot during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Amorim: I want Mainoo to stay
Speaking on Friday, ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, Amorim reiterated that he wanted Mainoo to stay at the club beyond Monday.
That is despite the midfielder having made just 16 starts in the 46 games since Amorim was appointed last November.
Amorim said: "I want Kobbie to stay. He needs to fight for his place, and we need Kobbie. So that is not going to change.
"The rest I don't know how it's going to finish. I understand that the players that are not playing in this moment are disappointed, but everyone has the same opportunity to play. You have to fight during the week."
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United are hopeful of selling winger Antony to Real Betis before the deadline, while Rasmus Hojlund is widely thought to be close to completing a move to Napoli.
Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, signed a long-term deal with Chelsea that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
Garnacho made 144 senior appearances for United since his debut in April 2022, scoring 26 goals, including six in his 36 matches last term.
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