Kobbie Mainoo 'open to Manchester United departure' after being given cold shoulder by Ruben Amorim for Red Devils' first two Premier League games of the season

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Mainoo is "ready to leave United on loan this month" and he is yet to receive a new contract offer. The Red Devils are said to be open to a permanent exit but he still believes he could have an Old Trafford future.

Mainoo is yet to play for United this season and, with just two years left on his contract, the Red Devils risk losing him in the not-so-distant future. But as head coach Amorim pointed out, he has to fight for his spot in the team to get minutes.

After the 1-1 draw with Fulham, the Portuguese said on the 20-year-old: "He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno, and I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal, and when I changed, I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno. So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position."

Since Amorim arrived at United last November, England international Mainoo has struggled for regular game time. He managed one start in their run to the Europa League final, two in the FA Cup and 15 in the Premier League last season.

Alarm bells may start ringing for versatile midfielder Mainoo, who was previously a target of Chelsea, if he does not start against League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday in round two of the Carabao Cup.