Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo could go their separate ways in the summer transfer window. Mainoo has been in contract negotiations with United since March 2024 and an agreement still hasn't been reached, despite talks continuing between both parties over a new deal. The Manchester Evening News understands there is a genuine chance that Mainoo could leave in the summer. There needs to be a compromise in contract negotiations for Mainoo to stay, which supporters are hoping for, but it's thought a split might eventually be best for the player and club. Mainoo's campaign has been stop-start and he doesn't have a settled role in Ruben Amorim's formation. Amorim has used Mainoo in the midfield pivot, the No.10 position and also experimented by playing him up front against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in February. How Mainoo fits into Amorim's plans will be considered ahead of a decision this summer, and United could look to bank a fee in the region of £70million for the talented young midfielder. United must operate within profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and the sale of academy graduates represents 'total profit', which could also be a factor in deciding Mainoo's future. Amorim could view Mainoo's future in his system in one of the No.10 roles, which means he would be competing with Alejandro Garnacho, Amad, Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount. "Kobbie's position today, we had time to understand the players. He was struggling a lot defending, as a midfielder, now more as a no.10, you can feel he's playing on the ball nearer the box and near the box is really good with his small connections," said Amorim after the Europa League game against FSCB in January. Erik ten Hag described Mainoo as the "perfect midfielder" and the 19-year-old played in a central position for England during last summer's European Championship. Gareth Southgate labelled Mainoo as "exceptional" and said England "hadn't really had a player like him until now." The Stockport-born youngster enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season at United in 2023/2024, which culminated with Mainoo scoring the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City . Those who have worked with Mainoo at Carrington during his rise through the academy believe he's got the character to become a future United captain, and a potential departure would be controversial. Mainoo is currently recovering from an injury and a club source has said he is focussing on his return. --- Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories. And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .