Michael Carrick told Sky Sports that 20‑year‑old Kobbie Mainoo is edging nearer to a contract at Manchester United. After a March report linked both Mainoo and defender Harry Maguire to new terms, United have reportedly drafted a five‑year deal that would run to 2031, featuring a sizeable wage increase on his 2023 deal that expires in 2027.

Carrick, whose own managerial future remains unsettled, said the club feels “positive” about finalising the agreement. Mainoo’s rise has been rapid; he featured in every Premier League match since Carrick took charge and earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, playing against Uruguay and Japan. The new deal would reflect his status after being omitted by former coach Ruben Amorim.

The contract talks arrive as United sit third in the Premier League, having won seven of Carrick’s ten games. A secured long‑term deal for Mainoo would solidify United’s midfield options and reward a player once considered surplus. With the Champions League push intensifying, the club now has one more piece in place to sustain its top‑five ambitions.