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Erik ten Hag’s management of Manchester United led to plenty of questions and a lot of concerns as to the exact project he was trying to create at Old Trafford and beyond.
By the end of his tenure, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophy glories were a distant memory, as well, replaced by an under-performing team and incoherent vision from the side-lines. However, the Reds may have discovered one transfer gift that Ten Hag has left behind which could benefit Ineos greatly.
This week, The Manchester Evening News reported that midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is currently unhappy with the proposed contract offer from the club as United try to tie him down to a longer agreement. Mainoo is looking for terms that are more representative of his first-team status at Old Trafford.
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Chelsea are believed to be long-term admirers of Mainoo and feel that they could be at the front of the queue if United are forced into a sale. Meanwhile, The Manchester Evening News understands that no player is considered “untouchable” anymore.
In the summer, Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Andre Onana were seen as players who couldn’t be sold at any price. After a poor season for the squad, that is no longer seen to be the case.
As such, United might wish to thank Ten Hag is they choose to sell Mainoo. Before being introduced to their team at the end of 2023, the midfielder’s transfer value was little more than £5million, according to Transfermarkt.
But after a year of being trusted by Ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy and latterly Ruben Amorim, his value is now at a whopping £46.2million. As an academy graduate, Mainoo would be considered as “pure profit” in accounting terms meaning his sale would help to alleviate FFP and PSR concerns.
It must be stressed that United are not looking to force Mainoo out of the football club and still aim for him to be the long-term future of the Reds. But if that stance ever changes, they will have Ten Hag to thank for helping them to secure a profitable market price.