Kobbie Mainoo has had a summer to forget. One which saw him become one of the most high-profile spare parts in footballing history.
Watching England's march to within a whisker of a World Cup final from the dug-out, without kicking a ball in anger. But as the sun begins to fade towards the arrival of autumn, things could be about to get even worse for the Manchester United midfielder.
Carrick's midfield overhaul
In the coming weeks and months, Mainoo might well discover he is no longer the man for all seasons he appeared to become again, following the arrival of Michael Carrick as United manager. Because the man who rescued him from the depths of despair at the start of 2026 and turned him into a footballer of some repute once again, has instructed his bosses to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
The deal could cost United up to £80m. Talks continue to take place between both clubs. But if Baleba does end up arriving at Old Trafford in the next week, the cost to Mainoo's long-term future could be enormous.
Carrick is said to still value Mainoo highly. But it appears he has a strange way of showing it. Not content with spending almost £90m on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer, Carrick now wants a third midfielder to compliment them, in the shape of Baleba.
Where would Mainoo fit?
United's interest in Baleba has been well documented, and will come as no surprise to Mainoo. But where would Mainoo fit into Carrick's midfield plans, should Baleba's signing get done? All three of the new arrivals are expected to be first choices. Tielemans has been lured to United for his vision, long range passing and goals.
While Baleba is the archetypal box-to-box midfielder who would bring energy and pace. Santos, meanwhile, is a pass-first central midfielder who excels at breaking up opposition attacks and recycling the ball in tight spaces.
Sound familiar? Thomas Tuchel's treatment of Mainoo throughout the World Cup appeared bizarre at times. Tuchel's obsession with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice meant Mainoo was never going to start a game. But to never use him from the bench, even when a tiring England needed to keep the ball in a game like the quarter-final triumph over Norway, was downright odd.
By the time England took on France in a farcical third-place play-off, Mainoo had disappeared from the picture altogether. The official line was that Mainoo was injured. It's understood Mainoo had done little in training during the tournament to impress Tuchel and his backroom staff. His confidence began to wane. There were suggestions his head had dropped.
Character under pressure
Mainoo doesn't have a reputation for sulking, despite having more than good reason to considering how former United boss Ruben Amorim treated him. He remains a modest and humble individual. Someone known to park his car amongst the ones belonging to the general club staff, instead of the Ferraris, Porsches and Bentleys belonging to his team mates. Someone who would rather go to book clubs than nightclubs.
But if the new campaign kicks off with Mainoo on the outside looking in once again, it promises to test his resolve and patience to the limit.
