Manchester United reaches agreement to renew contract with rising star, contract details revealed! Carrick supports salary increase with homegrown player status.

Manchester United has reached a verbal agreement with 21-year-old academy midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to renew his contract, with an official announcement expected before the end of this season. The UK's "The Sun" reports that negotiations made breakthrough progress last week, and all parties believe an announcement is only a matter of time.

Mainoo celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, and this new five-year contract with an option for an additional season is the best gift. Half a year ago, he was sitting on the bench under Ruben Amorim, had zero Premier League starts, and seemed destined to be sold. However, with Carrick's arrival, Mainoo's fate changed, and he is now set to receive a significant salary increase.

Mainoo's current contract was signed in February 2023 when he was only 17. His basic weekly wage is only £25,000, but with various bonuses, it can reach £50,000 or even £80,000. Now, Manchester United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst reveals that his new weekly salary is expected to be around £150,000.

The "Manchester Evening News" states that Mainoo's new contract weekly wage is £120,000, the difference possibly lying in whether variable incentive clauses are included. In any case, Mainoo's income has reached the level of Manchester United's key players, similar to those like Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko who joined this season.

In Manchester United's recent 13 matches, Mainoo started 12 times. Besides the salary increase, the club has also promised to sign a defensive midfielder this summer to partner with him, securing his future core role. This is mainly due to Mainoo's academy status; among the current squad, he is the only academy player capable of starting, making him crucial to the club which values the Carrington training system.

Mainoo will also play an important role in Premier League and Champions League registrations, as Manchester United's current roster lacks not only academy graduates but also domestic players in general. Therefore, the club plans to renew the contract of 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton to ensure sufficient "homegrown" players.

Moreover, after Carrick's appointment, Mainoo has improved in defensive awareness, giving Manchester United hope for his further growth. In Saturday's 1-0 win over Chelsea, Mainoo worked hard to protect the depleted defense and received positive external reviews. Coach Carrick even stated that Mainoo's performance in this match was his best since taking over.

"He stepped up, elevated his game level, and diversified his playing style," Carrick praised. "I felt he was very composed, calm, and had a strong presence, with excellent defending. Against such a strong opponent, standing out wasn't easy, and his duel with Cole Palmer was truly brilliant."

Carrick added: "He had to give his all tonight. In such a challenging environment, he still showed excellent ability and a calm mindset. Ultimately, he demonstrated his capability. Moreover, he only had limited training before the match. He participated in some training on Thursday and yesterday, overall not much. So, his ability to withstand pressure is truly commendable."

The "Manchester Evening News" reports that while Carrick did not personally participate in contract negotiations, he clearly expressed hope for Mainoo to secure better contract terms. It is said that Carrick directly communicated with club officials, emphasizing Mainoo's long-term value to the team. Carrick also supported the club granting a substantial salary increase to his favored player, reflecting his importance to the team now and in the coming years.

However, Manchester United's move naturally carries risks. Academy players losing motivation after salary increases, showing significant decline in performance, and developing arrogant attitudes are not new at Carrington. Rashford, Garnacho, etc., are negative examples; Mainoo needs to be cautious.

When neglected by Amorim, Mainoo not only felt disappointed about his future at Manchester United but also worried his chances of being selected for the England World Cup squad were almost zero. Now, he has renewed hope for playing in the World Cup. Last month, Manchester United's new rising star was called up by Tuchel to the England squad after 18 months and started against Japan. He is increasingly confident about making his World Cup debut in North America this June.