Michael Carrick may have precious little time to persuade Kobbie Mainoo to stay at Manchester United, if recent speculation proves accurate. The 44-year-old was appointed as the Red Devils' temporary head coach on Tuesday evening, replacing Ruben Amorim who was dismissed earlier this month. He will be in charge until the end of the season, at which point a permanent successor will be sought.
Whilst Carrick will be keen to steer United towards the strongest possible finish in the Premier League during the remainder of the season, he will also need to build rapport with the squad he has inherited. One player Carrick would be sensible to establish a connection with quickly is Mainoo. The young midfielder saw his playing time restricted under Amorim, making just one start this season under the Portuguese manager.
According to the Daily Mail, the player's relationship with the United hierarchy is "fragile" after he failed to secure a new contract last year. Mainoo is also understood to have no intention of remaining at his current club should his playing opportunities continue to be restricted.
This comes as numerous clubs have been linked with him recently, with Napoli believed to be the frontrunners. The reigning Italian champions have shown a knack for spotting talent from Manchester United, with Scott McTominay flourishing since his transfer in 2024.
It leaves Carrick with a tight deadline until the close of the transfer window to negotiate with Mainoo, or face the prospect of losing the promising youngster on loan or permanently. Discussing his new role, Carrick said: "Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour. I know what it takes to succeed here. My focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club."
