Manchester United are reportedly keen to be proactive in their efforts to agree a new contract with Kobbie Mainoo.
United began 2023 by announcing that the teenager had penned a long-term deal with the club until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
That development came when Mainoo had not made a single first-team appearance, yet United were prepared to place full faith in one of their most promising youngsters.
Although injury halted the 18-year-old's progression at the beginning of the season, he has since established himself as an important player under Erik ten Hag.
Mainoo has made a total of 13 starts in the Premier League during 2023-24, with his most notable moment coming when he scored a wonder goal in the closing seconds of the 4-3 victory away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1.
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While he was unable to prevent United from losing 3-1 to Manchester City in the derby on Sunday, it was another beneficial experience for the England Under-19 international.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the club's hierarchy would ideally like to reward Mainoo for his impact in the senior ranks.
The report suggests that talks have already taken place to gauge whether Mainoo and his representatives would be in favour of further extending his contract.
A wage increase would be a natural feature of any fresh terms, yet it is claimed that there is no rush on the part of Mainoo to agreed another renewal.
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Despite new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanting to stamp his mark on a new era for the club, Mainoo is reportedly focused on performing to the best of his ability on the pitch.
Performance-related add-ons in his contract are already said to have been activated, lessening the need for the prospect to add more time to a contract that already has three-and-a-half years left to run.
In the short term, United have some key fixtures on the horizon, starting with a home fixture against Everton in the Premier League as Ten Hag's side attempt to keep the pressure on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
A home FA Cup quarter-final date with Liverpool follows that encounter, Ten Hag's long-term job prospects potentially dependent on whether United qualify for the Champions League or win another cup competition, adding to the EFL Cup from 2022-23.
Darren Plant
