‘It’s going to be him or the other’: Jones believes ‘terrific’ Man Utd ace will be ‘trying to force’ move in Jan

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·22 September 2025

‘It’s going to be him or the other’: Jones believes ‘terrific’ Man Utd ace will be ‘trying to force’ move in Jan

Phil Jones is of the belief that Kobbie Mainoo will ‘force’ his way out of Manchester United mid-season if his situation continues as it is from now until Christmas.

The midfielder faces a hugely uncertain future at Old Trafford as long as Ruben Amorim is at the helm and Bruno Fernandes is fit, which, without tempting fate, is usually the case throughout the campaign.

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Kobbie Mainoo: The state of play

Should Mainoo really stick around all season if he’s not wanted? (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Five matches into the 2025/2026 Premier League term, Mainoo is still awaiting his first start. The only time he featured from the off came in United’s second round Carabao Cup tie away to Grimsby Town – a clash they lost in humiliating fashion against the League Two outfit.

When he was an unused substitute for the opening two league matches, Mainoo went to Amorim and the United board and requested that he be granted a late summer loan transfer to keep up his minutes elsewhere.

The 20-year-old’s pleas ultimately fell on deaf ears, as his departure was blocked by the key decision-makers, who instead informed him he was expected to stay and fight for his place.

In the closing stages of Saturday’s win over Chelsea, Mainoo came off the bench to make just a three-minute cameo – albeit his game time would’ve been hampered by Casemiro’s first-half sending off.

Mainoo has now totalled a measly 76 minutes worth of action out of 450. Alas, you can expect he’ll be knocking on Amorim’s door once again in the buildup to the January window to reiterate his desires to leave.

You can’t really blame him either, given the World Cup is on the horizon in 2026. The young starlet has already earned 10 senior caps for England and played a vital role for his nation at Euro 2024. However, he has not yet been called up to return to the setup since Thomas Tuchel succeeded Gareth Southgate and interim Lee Carsley.

Jones shares his verdict on Mainoo’s situation

“Kobbie is a player that I really, really admire. I loved watching him come into the team and I remember his performance at Everton away, his first start. He absolutely bossed the game, he really dictated it. He was terrific that night, it was a mature performance, and he carried on that season. He did really well. Played in a lot of games,” said Jones on Stadium Astro.

“It just looks like at the minute he’s out of favour. The manager’s already come out and stated that he’s not going to be playing with Bruno. It’s going to be him or the other, and you’re not going to dislodge Bruno in the form that he’s in and the way that he carries the team at times with his assists and goals.

“He’s (Mainoo) going to find it difficult for games and United aren’t in any European competitions this season. So, there’s not another competition that he might have got some game time in.”

“Time will tell, but I think by Christmas and January time, if he’s not had the game time that he’ll like, then I’m sure he’ll be trying to force a loan move,” the former defender concluded.