Man Utd hit Mainoo problem as £400,000-per-week contract prepared

Robin Bairner

Updated: 5 Mar 2026 07:36 GMT
4 min read

Kobbie Mainoo, Man Utd, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Kobbie Mainoo might be back in the Manchester United team, but the club’s headache over his contract negotiations are not over, with “issues” arising over the England star’s new deal.

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Mainoo appeared primed to leave the club when Ruben Amorim was in charge. He was barely getting minutes and was deeply unhappy with the situation, even asking for a loan move last summer.

Under interim manager Michael Carrick, his situation has improved – but that does not mean that he’s about to buckle in contract negotiations with his boyhood side.

Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€52.7M - €64.4M

Mainoo contract latest

There are “lingering issues” that Man Utd still need to address if they are to tie Mainoo down on an extended deal, the Daily Mail reports.

The 20-year-old continues to be paid a significantly lower salary than many of his colleagues, and there is a requirement for United to give him a substantial pay rise.

It’s a situation that the Red Devils’ Premier League rivals are keeping an eye on, aware that there could still be the potential to sign Mainoo in the summer if the situation is not swiftly resolved.

Mainoo’s Man Utd wages

Mainoo earns a reported £25,000 per week, which is in line with other hot young prospects such as Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon, yet it is well short of the average first-team player.

Leny Yoro, for example, is estimated by Capology to earn £115,000 per week, while fellow midfielder Manuel Ugarte scoops £120,000 per week – which is the same as Amad Diallo.

Clearly, there is much work for the Red Devils to do in order to put Mainoo in line with these players.

Man Utd top earners (Capology)

Rank	Name	Weekly salary
1	Casemiro	£350,000
2	Bruno Fernandes	£300,000
3	Matthijs de Ligt	£195,000
4	Harry Maguire	£190,000
5	Matheus Cunha	£180,000
6	Benjamin Sesko	£160,000
=7	Bryan Mbeumo	£150,000
=7	Mason Mount	£150,000
=7	Luke Shaw	£150,000
10	Noussaid Mazraoui	£135,000

Bruno Fernandes: Massive new contract prepared

But it’s not just Mainoo's contract that Man Utd are having to ponder. The Red Devils are also planning for Bruno Fernandes’ next move.

Amid rumours of interest from the Saudi Pro League, the Old Trafford club are willing to offer the Portugal star up to £400,000 per week, according to a report from The Mirror.

This underlines how important Bruno remains and would make him the top earner at the club – a status that is currently held by Casemiro, who will depart in the summer when his deal expires.

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