01 March 2024 , 22:26
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Manchester United have included clauses in Kobbie Mainoo's current contract that that will see him collect pay increases, ultimately easing concerns over his future.
Mainoo has been one of the success stories in what has been an indifferent season for the Red Devils. The teenager had been on the radar but has made himself a regular after impressing on his full debut at Everton. He also underlined his quality with a late winner at Wolves.
United knew they had to protect their asset and Football director John Murtough decided last February to agree to a deal that runs to 2027 with the option of an extra year. That deal included built-in pay rises depending on performance, which means all parties are very happy with the current situation, reports the Athletic.
Mainoo is firmly in the first-team picture with Erik ten Hag continuing to put his faith in the teenager. Casemiro is ageing and is not a long-term prospect whilst loan signing Sofyan Ambrabat has not had the desired impact.
Those performances have seen Mainoo linked with an England call-up. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is keeping tabs on the midfielder, although being involved in the U21 set-up is more likely in the immediate future.
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Ten Hag was quizzed on a potential England cap and told BBC Sport : “It’s not up to me. The England manager, Gareth Southgate, knows very well what he wants and it’s up to him. All the things that I can see, and what I saw, is that high potential.
"Every time, he’s going to high levels. Every training, every game, he’s playing at higher levels. So he has a high potential but it’s up to him to keep the process going and I have to manage this.”
The midfielder has continued to get opportunities under Erik ten Hag (Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)Southgate said last month: “He's doing brilliantly. I'm not certain he's necessarily going to be a defensive midfielder, as such. He's quite a progressive player but he's had a fabulous start to his career and it will be good to monitor him as we go forward.”
Since making his full debut in the win at Goodison Park Mainoo has started in 12 of the 14 Premier League games United have played - the other two he was on the bench. He was also exposed to Champions League football as he played in both games against Copenhagen.
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