Mail: Premier League giants were ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign Kobbie Mainoo before Carrick appointment

TL;DR

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.

Key points

Arsenal was interested in signing Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo's future at Manchester United was uncertain
There were multiple clubs interested in Mainoo
Michael Carrick's appointment affected Mainoo's situation

Mentioned in this story

Kobbie MainooMichael Carrick

ArsenalManchester United

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.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Kobbie Mainoo: What happened last year?

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.

Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

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.

Q&A

Why was Kobbie Mainoo's future uncertain at Manchester United?

Kobbie Mainoo faced an uncertain future at Manchester United due to a lack of playing opportunities and speculation about his potential departure.

Which Premier League clubs were interested in signing Kobbie Mainoo?

Arsenal was notably at the front of the queue to sign Kobbie Mainoo, with reports indicating there were several other interested clubs as well.

What impact did Michael Carrick's appointment have on Kobbie Mainoo's situation?

Michael Carrick's appointment may have influenced Mainoo's decision to stay at Manchester United, as his situation improved following the coaching change.