ALAN SHEARER URGES KOBBIE MAINOO TO LEAVE MANCHESTER UNITED IN JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW
Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes claim Kobbie Mainoo must leave Manchester United to save his career after losing his place under Amorim.
Alan Shearer thinks Kobbie Mainoo should leave Manchester United since he's not getting enough playing time. Mainoo hasn't started a single Premier League game this season, only appearing as a substitute 11 times under coach Ruben Amorim.
In Monday's 4-4 draw against Bournemouth, Mainoo came off the bench and got a nice welcome from the Old Trafford crowd.
There's been a lot of talk about Mainoo leaving United recently. With the January transfer window coming up, it's unclear what will happen.
Clubs like Chelsea, West Ham, and Napoli are supposedly interested in signing Mainoo, but reports say United doesn't want to let him leave in January, despite all the rumours.
Shearer explained why leaving United might be good for Mainoo and actually help United too.
The coach clearly doesn't rate Kobbie Mainoo that much. If you can't break into the team when they're struggling, there's a problem, Shearer told Betfair.
It seems like it'd be better for everyone if he moved on.
We've seen this before with Manchester United players who don't fit into the manager's plans. He's not afraid to get rid of them, loan them out, or sell them. It looks like that might happen here.
I'm not part of the club. I don't know what his attitude is like. But from the outside, it looks like it would be best for him to leave and play some football in January.
Whether it's a loan or a permanent move, we'll have to wait. But if you're not playing, you need to think about leaving.
When asked about Mainoo's lack of playing time, Amorim admitted the reasons behind his choices.
I see him [Mainoo] as a starter like the other players, Amorim said last month. I just have to make a choice, and recently it hasn't been Kobbie.
I don't know about the future. Like with Casemiro, he wasn't playing, and then he did. I just want to win, and I don't care who plays.
United legend Paul Scholes agreed with Shearer, saying Mainoo might be better off leaving Old Trafford. He also responded to Amorim's comments.
This kid [Mainoo] is being wasted, not playing on a team that can't control the game, Scholes wrote on Instagram, replying to Amorim's recent quotes.
I hate seeing homegrown players leave, but it's probably best for him now. Enough is enough.
WHY MARCUS RASHFORD IS OFFICIALLY SNUBBING MICHAEL CARRICK’S MANCHESTER UNITED SOS RETURN PLEA
Marcus Rashford has no interest in a Manchester United return. Discover why he’s choosing a permanent £26m move to Barcelona instead.
Marcus Rashford isn’t looking back at Manchester United. After his loan to Barcelona, he’s made it pretty clear he wants to stay in Spain for good.
He landed at Barca last summer, a move that made sense after things soured for him at Old Trafford. Hansi Flick brought him in on a season-long loan, with a deal in place to buy him for €30 million (£26 million). Rashford wasted no time showing his worth—22 goal contributions in 32 games. He’s settled in fast, and the fans have noticed.
Earlier on, it sounded like Barcelona might try to haggle over the fee, maybe push for another loan or a cheaper deal. But now, according to Marca, that’s off the table. The club’s ready to pay what they agreed and make Rashford’s move permanent. Rashford wants it too. Everyone seems to be on the same page.
The Mirror reports Rashford has zero interest in heading back to Manchester. He wants his future sorted before England sets off for the 2026 World Cup in North America. No surprise there—he’s not looking to drag things out.
England’s first match is June 17 against Croatia, just two weeks after Barcelona’s season wraps up. Some talk suggested Michael Carrick, if he gets the United job permanently, could try to lure Rashford back. But honestly, Rashford’s mind is made up. He wants Spain, and that’s that.
Even if the Barcelona deal somehow falls through, Rashford would rather move elsewhere than wear United’s shirt again. If everything goes as planned, his transfer will be United’s first big move this summer.
He’s not the only one heading out. Casemiro’s already confirmed he’s leaving, and a few others might follow. United have juggled rumours about guys like Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kobbie Mainoo, especially back in January. After Ruben Amorim left, Mainoo actually found himself in a stronger spot at United and has started every match since Carrick came back. Lately, there’s been a real push to get him into the England squad.
Meanwhile, United are fighting for a Champions League spot. If they make the top five, they’ll have more cash to play with this summer. Last year, they spent over £200 million beefing up the squad, even without European football.
If Rashford, Ugarte, and Zirkzee all leave, United will have even more flexibility to reshape the team. Top priorities? A central midfielder, a centre-forward, and a left winger before the 2026/27 season kicks off. This summer’s shaping up to be busy at Old Trafford.
COLE PALMER "OPEN" TO MANCHESTER UNITED SWITCH AMID HOMESICK RUMORS
Cole Palmer is reportedly open to a summer move to boyhood club Manchester United as claims of homesickness emerge at Chelsea.
Cole Palmer just can’t seem to escape transfer talk. Now, it’s Manchester United in the headlines, with rumours swirling that he’s homesick after spending two and a half years at Chelsea.
Apparently, Palmer wouldn’t mind a big summer move to United—his boyhood club—especially with fresh claims that he’s not exactly settled in London. He joined Chelsea from Manchester City in a £42.5 million deal and quickly became one of their main attacking threats. But now, the England international’s name keeps popping up in connection to a return up north.
The Sun says Palmer would be open if United came calling, since he grew up supporting them. But don’t expect him to head back to City while Pep Guardiola’s still the boss. That door’s basically closed.
It’s worth noting that Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, knows Palmer well from his time at City’s academy. Wilcox is a big fan—hard not to be, after Palmer racked up 15 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season.
Despite signing a new deal with Chelsea last year that runs until 2033, Palmer reportedly misses his hometown of Wythenshawe.
Injuries have made this season tough for him. He’s only managed 13 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, and he missed Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday because of a thigh problem. Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s new head coach, confirmed that before the match.
Rosenior’s already tried to put a lid on the transfer rumours, especially the talk about Palmer being homesick. “I’ve spoken to Cole plenty of times, and he seems really happy here,” Rosenior said last week. “He’s a huge part of our long-term plans.
“My job—and the club’s—is to help him consistently play at his best. He was frustrated after the Brentford game, for sure. We need to take care of him, and that’s why I kept him out of the last match.”