How much Kobbie Mainoo will demand in wages if Tottenham sign Manchester United star
Tottenham are eyeing midfielders ahead of the transfer deadline and could turn to Manchester United ace Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo wants to leave Manchester United due to limited first-team opportunities under Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese has fancied a midfield pivot of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, leaving the 20-year-old as an option on the bench.
With James Maddison set to miss most of the season for Tottenham due to an ACL injury and Yves Bissouma seemingly set for Galatasaray, Thomas Frank could do with another midfielder in the coming days.
Tottenham may need to pay Kobbie Mainoo around £150k/week
Mainoo came up the ranks at Manchester United, so unlike a lot of their other players, does not sit on extremely high wages.
The Manchester outfit are known to overpay players in order to tempt them to sign, but with the 20-year-old, they did not need to do that.
It’s understood that he is earning only £20k/week at Old Trafford, which certainly does not reflect his talent and potential.
According to The Athletic on 27 August, Casemiro, a midfielder past his prime, is on £350k/week, which led to Mainoo expecting more as he was starting ahead of the Brazilian last season.
| Competition | Appearances | Direct Goal Involvements | Minutes Played |
| Premier League | 29 | 0 | 1,666′ |
| Europa League | 8 | 3 | 175′ |
| Domestic Cups | 3 | 0 | 179′ |
The England international was hoping for a hike on his current wages, potentially up to 10 times, taking it to £200k/week.
However, if he leaves for Spurs, they will be paying a transfer fee, so he will understandably have to settle for lower wages.
Given the North London outfit’s financial situation and Mainoo’s demands, an agreement on £150k/week in wages could most certainly be reached.
- Read more: What Tottenham are ‘willing to pay’ for Savinho as Man City set astronomical asking price
How Thomas Frank can get the best out of Kobbie Mainoo
Frank can unlock Mainoo’s potential by leveraging his tactical flexibility, player development expertise, and data-driven approach honed at Brentford.
The composed 20-year-old central midfielder, renowned for his dribbling, press resistance and intelligent positioning, has struggled under Manchester United’s rigid systems, often misplaced in deeper or advanced roles that stifle his creativity.
Frank’s adaptable setups, primarily a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, with situational 3-5-2 shifts, would position Mainoo as a dynamic No. 8 in a double pivot, allowing him to receive between the lines, drive forward with explosive carries and exploit half-spaces.
Spurs’ emphasis on high pressing and quick transitions suits Mainoo’s tenacity in duels and recovery runs, while Frank’s marginal gains philosophy, which focuses on set-pieces and vertical passes, would enhance his ball progression and composure under pressure.
By fostering emotional intelligence and consistent minutes, Frank could transform Mainoo into Tottenham’s midfield linchpin, blending defensive solidity with progressive flair for a top-four push.
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