Manchester United sets weekly salary cap for new star's contract renewal, negotiation time scheduled! One weakness exposed needs improvement.

Manchester United is optimistic about securing a new long-term deal with academy prodigy Kobbie Mainoo. Following Michael Carrick's replacement of Rúben Amorim, this 20-year-old English midfielder has re-established himself as a key player with fairly consistent performances, increasing the probability he will stay at the club rather than depart from Old Trafford.

During Amorim's coaching period, Mainoo had no Premier League starts this season, making his exit nearly certain, and his contract negotiations therefore reached a deadlock. The Portuguese young manager believed Mainoo's playing style had significant flaws that did not fit his 3-4-3 formation.

Transfer expert Pete O'Rourke from "Football Insider" stated: "If Amorim remained as Manchester United's manager, it's conceivable Mainoo's contract talks would have made no progress whatsoever. But after Carrick took over, the situation has completely changed. Since the managerial switch in January, he has consistently held a starting position."

O'Rourke added: "Mainoo's contract runs until 2027, so I believe negotiations will restart soon, and they are confident they can resolve the issue. We will see Mainoo sign a new deal. Under Carrick's management, he has proven his capability. I think Mainoo is likely to sign a new contract as early as possible, with a solution expected this summer, because he has become a crucial player for Manchester United, and the club is confident about keeping him. The player is also satisfied with his current role, and United has always wanted to retain him."

"talkSPORT" reports that Manchester United has also set a ceiling for Mainoo's weekly salary, offering him £100,000 per week, quadruple his current wage. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will strictly enforce the wage structure he has implemented and will not provide excessively high terms.

It is also emphasized that the club is willing to renegotiate a new contract that reflects Mainoo's current status in the first team. Sources reveal that United's management has scheduled a meeting with Mainoo's agent team at the end of March to finalize contract details.

Mainoo's current contract was signed in 2023, with a £25,000 weekly salary ranking among the lowest in the squad. However, the contract includes performance-based clauses, which were difficult to achieve under Amorim but have mostly been met since Carrick's appointment. Thus his wage ranges between £50,000 and £80,000, not unreasonable, as many key players in the team earn similar amounts, such as Diogo Dalot and Sena Ramens.

In Manchester United's 1-2 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League, Mainoo's weakness was precisely identified and exploited by the "Magpies." When performing at his best, Mainoo is an excellent midfield support player, adept at utilizing advantages in tight spaces, contributing with outstanding pressure-resistant dribbling and space-creating abilities.

However, when facing aggressive midfield opponents and intense pressing, Mainoo lacks the physical strength to break through and the mentality to change the game's dynamics. Against Newcastle's challenge, he opted to retreat to the backline for safe sideways and backward passes. That style maintains possession but doesn't contribute significantly when United needs someone to step up and make a difference.

Amorim's decision to bench Mainoo was due to this characteristic; with only two midfielders, it's hard to be effective. If Manchester United's new star wants to reach a higher level, he must improve physically and mentally, taking more risks in the most intense and brutal moments of matches rather than sticking to his original approach.