Amorim criticised for 'MAD' Man Utd transfer decision

Cameron Smith

20 Apr 2025 06:00 CDT
4 min read

Manchester United have been urged to keep Kobbie Mainoo at the club this summer, despite rumours of a sale amid interest from Chelsea.

The England international has been heavily linked with an Old Trafford exit in recent months and reports suggest that Man Utd are eager to offload him in order to raise transfer funds to bolster the squad at Ruben Amorim’s disposal.

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Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€41.1M - €68.5M

The Red Devils boss is determined to sign at least five new players during the 2025 summer transfer window and the club are open to selling the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Mainoo in order to generate ‘pure profit.’

However, former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy believes Man Utd would be “mad” to sell Mainoo this summer, despite the fact that his current contract at Old Trafford is due to expire in 2027.

Man Utd urged to keep Kobbie Mainoo

Following Mainoo’s late strike against Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League on Thursday night, Murphy has urged Man Utd to re-think their decision about offloading him this summer.

“Manchester United’s incredible win against Lyon on Thursday night reminded us all it would be madness to let Kobbie Mainoo leave Old Trafford,” he told The Daily Mail.

“For anyone who had forgotten about his talents, his impact during extra time reinforced what we saw so often last season and for England at the Euros: a super-talented midfielder, who is mature, calm and can handle himself on the biggest stage in the biggest games.”

Murphy added: “I understand the rumours around him and Alejandro Garnacho needing to be sold for PSR reasons but the equation is simple: are United blessed with an abundance of talented midfielders? No.

“Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are coming to the end of their careers. They let Scott McTominay go. He is exactly the type of player United would be looking to sign if they didn’t have him already.

“Even if they sold him for pure profit on the balance sheet, they will have to spend just as much, if not more, to replace his talent,” Murphy continued.

“Mainoo and Garnacho are two talented, hungry players capable of having a big impact for United over the next five years or more, whether that’s under Amorim or any other manager.

“If I was Amorim, I would be talking to Mainoo, talking to my bosses, and making sure he stayed. I would still be shocked to see him leave in the summer.”

Mainoo has made 28 appearances for Man Utd so far this season, scoring two goals, while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently stands at €54.8 million - the sixth highest of any player in the Red Devils’ squad.