Man Utd could cash in on Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. (Image: Getty)
Gary Pallister has dismissed claims that could leave this summer amid prolonged negotiations over a contract extension. United have yet to strike an agreement with the academy graduate, who is reportedly demanding an eye-watering pay raise to commit his future to .
Mainoo is currently among the first team’s lowest earners, pocketing around £20,000 per week on the deal he signed shortly after his breakthrough in February 2023. The 19-year-old midfielder is said to want at least £150,000 per week to remain at his boyhood club, with the possibility of an increase if United play in the Champions League. His reported demands have fuelled suggestions that could sanction a sale to raise funds for his mammoth squad rebuild, but Pallister can’t see it.
No, I don’t think [Mainoo will look to leave],” the legendary United defender told Express Sport with Spaceport Sweden.
“I think Kobbie’s just arrived on the scene, and I’m sure that dream to play for is still burning deeply.”
However, Pallister can sense some problems with Mainoo’s fellow academy graduate, Alejandro Garnacho, who was heavily linked with an exit in January.
Napoli and were prominent winter suitors, and there is expected to be interest in the 20-year-old winger at the end of the season.
Pallister added: “There’s a lot going on with Garnacho at the moment, who was obviously mentioned when Amorim left him and Marcus out of the team [against in December] and listed a number of prerequisites you needed to do to be in the starting lineup.
Kobbie Mainoo has been backed to stay at Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
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“Garnacho was on the end of that. I didn’t think he was that bad when he came off [and went straight down the tunnel vs Ipswich].
“I think he grabbed his shirt, saying, ‘I’m going to get my shirt. I’m soaking wet’, but people want to make an issue out of that.
“There seems to be issues with him possibly, so that’s the one that could possibly happen. I hope not because I think he is a threat. He can run and unsettled defences. Maybe his end product has got to be better.”
According to , United put Garnacho and Mainoo in the shop window in January and were willing to part ways for £70million and £80m, respectively.
And Pallister admits the prospect of INEOS pushing for the sales of academy talents who are making an impact at senior level is a cause for concern.
“But yeah, it’s worrying. It is worrying if they do have to sell some of the better players to kind of reinforce,” Pallister concluded.
“And you wouldn’t think you’d be talking about being in that position after all the success they’ve had over recent years and the size of the club that it’s become that you think we’re going to sell some of our best young talent.”