MANCHESTER UNITED OPEN URGENT CONTRACT TALKS WITH KOBBIE MAINOO FOLLOWING CASEMIRO’S DEPARTURE NEWS
Manchester United confirm Casemiro will leave in 2026. Michael Carrick opens new contract talks to keep Kobbie Mainoo at the club.
Manchester United are ready to get back to contract talks with Kobbie Mainoo now that Casemiro’s exit is official.
Mainoo’s situation has been all over the place this season. Michael Carrick brought him back into the squad, and that loan move to Napoli? That’s off the table. Mainoo actually agreed to a new deal last year, but Ruben Amorim never signed it off. So now he’s got 18 months left on his current contract, plus an option for another year, but he’s still earning less than most of the first team.
Under Amorim, Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford looked shaky. The Portuguese manager only started him once this season, away at Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, before getting the sack. The press kept asking Amorim why Mainoo wasn’t playing, and things got so tense that Mainoo’s brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, showed up at Old Trafford in December with a shirt saying “Free Kobbie Mainoo”.
With Carrick in charge, things are changing. Last weekend, he played Mainoo on the left of a midfield three in United’s 2-0 win against Manchester City, alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Carrick’s always been a fan—he told Rio Ferdinand last September that United should “build around” Mainoo, calling him the kind of academy player the club needs. Carrick said Mainoo’s more of an attacker, not a holding midfielder, and that he just needs a bit of patience and a break.
Funny enough, against City, Carrick used Mainoo in a deeper role. Mainoo didn’t pick out any killer passes from his 32 completions, but he showed real grit, racking up 77 pressures as United pressed City all over the pitch.
Mainoo had been pushing for a move when Amorim cut his minutes, but now everything’s up in the air again—especially since Casemiro just announced he’s leaving United at the end of the season. Casemiro’s contract was set to end this summer, and even though the club could have triggered another year, he personally asked United to clear things up for the fans.
United have been gearing up for a big midfield shake-up, eyeing up to four new signings. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are right at the top of their list.
By announcing his departure before the Arsenal game this weekend, Casemiro’s making it easier for both sides to plan for the future and cut down on all the rumours. LA Galaxy and other clubs in MLS, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil are all circling him.
With the World Cup coming up this summer, a bunch of MLS teams are hunting for European players on free transfers—guys who can boost the league’s profile, help the sport grow at the grassroots, and bring in more money. Casemiro fits that bill perfectly.
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.”