Brighton have spoken with representatives of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo over a potential transfer, FootballTransfers understands.
Mainoo is open to leaving Old Trafford after falling out of Ruben Amorim’s first-team plans, and the Red Devils are well aware of these talks, according to sources.
After an injury-plagued 2024–25 season, the 20-year-old has found it difficult to regain his spot in the squad. As a result, his camp is looking into options that may give him consistent playing time and a platform to ignite his incredibly promising future.
According to reports, Brighton is eager to take advantage of the circumstance and believes Mainoo is a good fit for their style of play. According to certain sources, this agreement might make it easier for Carlos Baleba to go the other way in the future.
United has been actively pursuing the Cameroon international throughout this transfer window, but Brighton’s not-for-sale policy has disappointed them. Man Utd’s chances of landing Baleba in 2026 would significantly increase if they demonstrated a willingness to make a fair offer for Mainoo.
Mainoo intrigued by Brighton move
Given that Matt O’Riley has consistently drawn interest from Italy and that Julio Enciso and Facundo Buonanotte are anticipated to depart the team before the deadline, Brighton’s interest in an attack-minded midfielder like Mainoo should not be shocking.
For one of England’s most promising young midfielders, a transfer to the Amex may be seen as a step down by some, but many close to the player think it might be the right decision at this point in his early career.
Mainoo is looking for regular first-team minutes, and Brighton’s reputation for developing young talent and offering a route to elite-level football appeals to him greatly.
Mainoo’s desire to play for England in the 2026 World Cup is another element affecting his choice. Amorim has limited the midfielder’s playing time, so he knows he needs to have a successful season to catch England manager Thomas Tuchel’s eye.
A move to Brighton might provide him the chance to demonstrate his abilities in the Premier League and re-enter the running for an international spot.
Mainoo has long been a target for Chelsea as well. According to insiders, the Stamford Bridge club is still keeping a close eye on events and may still enter the race if the appropriate conditions arise, even though no formal proposal has been submitted.
The Blues must sell in order to meet the terms of their UEFA settlement, which states that Chelsea must have a positive balance at the end of the transfer window in order to sign new players for the Champions League. Moreover, acquiring Alejandro Garnacho is currently the top priority.
Given that Mainoo attended the academy, a possible sale would provide Man Utd with a substantial boost in terms of Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
As was also the case last winter, any transfer fee would be shown on the club’s books as pure profit, giving them even more incentive to accept bids made during this window or in January.
Mainoo’s future looks set to be one of the key storylines in the closing days of the transfer window.
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