Joe Cole explains the one reason Man Utd would sell top star to Chelsea

Former Chelsea star Joe Cole says it would be a purely ‘business decision’ if Manchester United were to sell Kobbie Mainoo in the summer.

Mainoo broke out of United’s academy to make his senior debut in January 2023 and the 19-year-old has gone on to establish himself as one of the club’s few shining lights across an otherwise turbulent period.

The young midfielder has made 60 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood team and was also one of England’s standout performers as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions finished runners-up at last year’s European Championship.

But widespread reports in January suggested United were ready to listen to offers for Mainoo, with INEOS eager to balance the books and comply with Premier League spending regulations.

Under PSR rules, the sale of homegrown talent represents ‘pure profit’ – and academy products Dean Henderson, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and James Garner have all been offloaded by the Red Devils in recent years.

While Ruben Amorim has been adamant that Mainoo remains central to his plans, it’s understood Chelsea are closely monitoring the situation and could look to lure the England international away from Old Trafford when the summer transfer window opens for business.

‘Manchester United are in the same situation as a few other Premier League clubs, where they’re going to have to sell academy players to avoid breaking Financial Fair Play,’ ex-Chelsea and England winger Cole told Paddy Power of the speculation surrounding Mainoo’s future..

‘There’s no way that Manchester United will want to sell Kobbie Mainoo from a technical and football perspective, but if they do sell him, it will be a financial and business decision.

‘I’d imagine that Kobbie probably doesn’t want to leave United, but he’ll want clarity on where he fits at the club.

‘He’s an England international and one of their better players, so the club looking to sell him will purely be to balance the books.’

Cole is confident the sale of Mainoo would go down like a lead ballon among United supporters.

‘I always worry for football clubs like Manchester United, who are predominately making business decisions over football decisions, and over time, that’s not going to do down well with the fans,’ he added.

‘They want to know the club is going in the right direction, they want to see great players and they’ll want to see Kobbie Mainoo in a United shirt because he’s a brilliant footballer.’

United fans will, no doubt, have been relieved to read some conflicting reports of a possible breakthrough in talks over Mainoo’s contract at the Theatre of Dreams this month, with the teenager’s current deal due to expire in 2027.

Mainoo is said to be demanding wages of around £180,000-a-week to fall in line with some of United’s more established first-team stars.

In January, United head coach Amorim distanced himself from rumours that Mainoo could be set for the exit door at the end of the season.

‘Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club,’ the Portuguese said when quizzed on the rumours surrounding Mainoo.

‘But we know the position that this club is in at this moment, we will see but I really like our players, especially from our academy. I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving and also [Alejandro] Garnacho.

‘The focus is that we have to improve our academy. And you have to bring more [through]. That is something that all the clubs in England have to take advantage of.

‘The players that come from their academies. To play, to feel the shirt, but also to sell them. So our focus is to bring more [through].’

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