Mainoo contract, Rashford transfer – Man Utd’s next 4 priorities clear | Football | Sport
Kobbie Mainoo is yet to sign a new Man Utd contract. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United have secured the first piece of summer business with Harry Maguire putting pen to paper on a new contract. The England international’s fresh deal runs until the summer of 2027, with the club retaining the option of an additional year.
With so much still to be resolved, it represents a significant stride in the right direction. United have a great deal to address between now and the end of the campaign, with Champions League football likely to play a decisive role in transfer activity and potentially the appointment of a new manager.
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As it stands, Michael Carrick has the club positioned in third place, and they are among the frontrunners to secure a return to Europe’s elite competition. Following Maguire’s new deal, the Daily Express examines four key priorities United must tackle:
Appoint a permanent manager
Manchester United are well-positioned to clinch Champions League football and should Carrick manage to deliver that goal, it would represent a considerable achievement for the interim head coach. The club are yet to name a permanent replacement for Ruben Amorim, with Carrick holding the fort until the season’s conclusion.
The former United midfielder has made a remarkable impression since stepping in on an interim basis, and there is considerable pressure mounting for the 44-year-old to be handed the position on a permanent footing. The club’s hierarchy must act swiftly in deciding who will lead the side if they are to steal a march on their Premier League rivals in this summer’s transfer window.
It is likely to be a slow start to the transfer market, with the world’s finest players competing at the World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Nevertheless, United require a clear strategy, underpinned by a manager’s vision, to make the most of the window.
Michael Carrick has impressed in interim charge of Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
Tie down Kobbie Mainoo
One player who has truly flourished under Carrick’s stewardship is Kobbie Mainoo, yet the United academy product has still not put pen to paper on a fresh contract at Old Trafford.
His reintegration into the first-team setup should hand the club a significant advantage in any prospective transfer negotiations. United simply cannot afford to allow a talent of Mainoo’s calibre to walk out the door, given he embodies the United DNA.
His current contract runs until the summer of 2027, with the club holding an additional year’s option, while talks are reportedly ongoing over a new five-year arrangement. They must get it over the line.
Address Marcus Rashford situation
It has been something of a bittersweet experience for many United supporters watching Marcus Rashford thrive while on loan at Barcelona, with the La Liga giants having agreed an option to sign the England international. Numerous contradictory reports surround his future at both the Nou Camp and Old Trafford. Some indications suggest Rashford will be permitted to leave United regardless this summer, with the club seeking a permanent sale, while Barcelona are pursuing another loan arrangement.
United are entirely within their rights to attempt to maximise the transfer fee secured from Rashford this summer, and his impressive displays in Spain certainly strengthen that position.
Sign Casemiro’s replacement
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has confirmed his departure from Manchester United this summer and the club are fully aware they must recruit a successor. Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba are among the names linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with all four expected to command substantial transfer fees.
Put simply, United cannot afford to sign any underperformers, as they have done previously. The return to the Champions League presents the club with a genuine opportunity to push forward and rebuild, though they are aware they must adhere to the new SCR regulations.
Tonali, Anderson and Wharton would all represent outstanding acquisitions, but United’s transfer hierarchy know they must secure the best possible value for money.
