
Arsenal was reportedly leading the pursuit to sign Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United before the appointment of Michael Carrick. Mainoo's uncertain future last year attracted significant interest from multiple clubs.
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Mail: Premier League giants were ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign Kobbie Mainoo before Carrick appointment
When Kobbie Mainoo was facing a hugely uncertain future at Manchester United last year, Arsenal had reportedly put themselves ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign him.
That’s according to MailSport, which adds that there’d have been ‘no shortage of takers’ if the midfielder’s situation hadn’t improved and he pushed to leave.
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Mainoo first requested a departure from United in the very closing stages of the 2025 summer window, after he had been an unused substitute for the opening two matches of the Premier League campaign.
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INEOS blocked his exit, and Ruben Amorim eventually granted him some action in the subsequent fixtures – albeit only as a substitute and in heavily reduced cameos.
When he was still being omitted towards the end of the year and in the lead-up to January, it was expected that , whether on loan or permanently, in order to play a consistent role elsewhere.
Kobbie Mainoo faced an uncertain future at Manchester United due to a lack of playing opportunities and speculation about his potential departure.
Arsenal was notably at the front of the queue to sign Kobbie Mainoo, with reports indicating there were several other interested clubs as well.
Michael Carrick's appointment may have influenced Mainoo's decision to stay at Manchester United, as his situation improved following the coaching change.

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By the time Amorim was relieved of his duties at the beginning of January, the youngster had not started once in the league and had accumulated only 212 minutes on the pitch.
Thankfully, Michael Carrick was appointed and swiftly put matters right; he instantly restored Mainoo to his starting role alongside Casemiro, where he has stayed ever since while overseeing a tremendous run of form.
Mainoo’s record under Carrick
Most recently, the 21-year-old claimed the Player of the Match award after scoring a late winner in front of the Stretford End to seal a crucial triumph over Liverpool, which also marked a first league double over the Merseyside outfit in a decade.
Alas, it goes without saying that, for supporters, the prospect of seeing their homegrown starlet represent a direct rival like the Gunners is unthinkable, so credit must be given to Carrick for how he managed to correct the crisis.
Last Thursday, it was announced that Mainoo had put pen to paper on a long-term deal in M16, keeping him tied to his boyhood club until June 2031.
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