Manchester United's rising star grows dissatisfied, with zero appearances and no salary raise! Staying for now but could leave as early as the winter transfer window.

The downfall of Manchester United academy talent Kobbie Mainoo has been just as swift as his ascent. After two Premier League games this season, the 20-year-old English midfielder still hasn’t played a minute! Against Arsenal and Fulham, Mainoo sat the entire 90 minutes on the bench, visibly upset.

As many expected, Rúben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system isn’t a good fit for Mainoo’s attributes. The 40-year-old Portuguese coach demands midfielders to be balanced in attack and defense, possess great stamina, and excel in physical duels—qualities Mainoo lacks. If played as a forward, he would only be a backup, especially since the club spent £200 million in the summer signing three new players.

When explaining why Mainoo didn’t feature in the last two matches, Amorim clearly stated he competes for a spot with captain Bruno Fernandes. This essentially tells the young Englishman he is a substitute, or even surplus, since Bruno is the captain and an ironman who rarely rests.

In the Fulham match, even when Bruno missed a penalty and was partly responsible for conceding a goal, Amorim did not substitute him, which is not a good sign for Mainoo’s future at Manchester United. Premier League transfer expert Graham Bailey even claimed Mainoo might consider leaving in the summer window.

According to reports, Mainoo is not only unhappy about not getting game time but also disappointed that the club hasn’t offered him a new contract for over a year, further confirming his diminished status.

“As far as I know, Mainoo is considering a loan move away from Manchester United this month, with many clubs interested in signing him,” Bailey said. “We understand that since last year, Mainoo hasn’t received a promised contract from the club, and he is eager to play. It’s believed Manchester United is open to a permanent transfer, while Mainoo prefers a loan because he still believes he has a future at Old Trafford. His contract has two years remaining, and he is one of the lowest-paid players in the squad, so a loan might be an option.”

Mainoo's contract runs for another two years, but recently Amorim declined to comment on his renewal, saying it’s the sporting director Jason Wilcox’s responsibility. Bailey noted that Mainoo is unhappy about this. “Understandably, Mainoo is dissatisfied with the contract situation, but right now, he just wants to play.”

Reportedly, Premier League clubs like Tottenham, Brighton, Chelsea, Fulham, and Brentford are monitoring Mainoo’s situation. However, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano expects Mainoo to stay this summer since Manchester United may not bring in new midfielders. If the club signs someone at the last minute, Mainoo might reconsider his future during the January winter transfer window.

“For Mainoo, zero appearances in two rounds is obviously hard to accept, but he hasn’t communicated any intention to leave Manchester United,” Romano said. “Currently, there are no negotiations about a transfer, so there’s no need to panic.”

It is said that unless Manchester United initiates a sale, Mainoo won’t request to leave this summer. He might reassess his situation in January based on his playing time in the Premier League. This is directly linked to Manchester United’s moves in the final days of the summer window, with club reporter Andy Mitten predicting a busy last week for the Red Devils.

“I expect Manchester United’s transfer activity to be hectic, especially regarding player sales, as they need to raise funds. Deals involving Sancho, Garnacho, and Antony haven’t progressed as deeply as some reports suggested,” Mitten said. “The situation might change in a few days, but Manchester United can’t control it; they have fixed prices and won’t compromise. Ideally, there could be changes with Bissouma’s transfer if enough money comes in, but Brighton won’t lower their price. If many deals drag to the last day, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Manchester United might also continue earning from former players’ transfers. This summer, moves involving Maxime Oyedele, Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, and Anthony Elanga have brought nearly £20 million in transfer fees to the club. Andreas Pereira could be next, with Fulham’s manager Marco Silva confirming the Brazilian midfielder might transfer, and Manchester United holds a 20% sell-on clause.