Manchester United promising midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly set to double his wages at Manchester United – without penning a new deal.
The 18-year-old midfielder currently earns £10,000 per week and signed a contract until 2026 earlier this year but will be in line to make £20,000.
In a turbulent season on and off the field for United, Mainoo has emerged as an oasis of calm and played in their last three matches after returning from a devastating pre-season ankle injury.
And the Daily Star reports that Mainoo’s bumper pay rise will come about because a clause in his contract says that will happen when he becomes a first-team regular.
While the exact details of that remain cloudy, the newspaper claims that Mainoo is close to triggering the clause.
Gary Neville called Mainoo the ‘best player by a street’ in United’s 3-0 win over Everton last weekend, even despite Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning overhead kick.
Since then, he has turned in strong performances against Galatasaray and Newcastle, even is his team-mates appeared rudderless in the latter encounter.
According to Mail Sports, such were his performances in pre-season, the club would not have signed Sofyan Amrabat on loan had the youngster not been injured.
He assisted Bruno Fernandes against Arsenal in pre-season and earned a start against Real Madrid before he was forced off after 18 minutes with his injury.
It has been a long road back since that July disappointment and Mainoo has worked well to win his place.
He bagged a couple of assists for the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy away at Salford City in November, causing one fan to state that he was already the club’s best midfielder.
While crowning him as such would be a rather hasty response to the form he is showing, there is little doubt among his coaches that he possesses the quality to rise to the top.
After the Everton triumph, Fernandes said: ‘I always talk about Kobbie. I think he’s a special player too. What he puts on the game, what he gives to the team, it’s known to anyone (in the squad).
‘I think he has great players in front of him to learn [from] because he plays with one of the best in the world like Casemiro. Also Sofyan [Amrabat] who plays in that position – that is really good and he’s getting everything from them.
‘He wants to learn, is eager to learn and I think that’s probably the best capability he has because he wants to learn every time. He’s eager to listen to everyone to get better and better.’
