John O’Shea fears Manchester United would be making a grave mistake if they decided to sell academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo in the final days of the transfer window.
Mainoo has started just 12 league games since Ruben Amorim’s arrival last November, and was an unused substitute for United’s first two games of the new Premier League campaign.
The 20-year-old broke through under Erik ten Hag and went on to become a mainstay in the Red Devils’ side under the Dutchman, even going on to start for England in the Euro 2024 finals.
However, fitness issues last campaign saw Mainoo slip down the pecking order, and the midfielder now appears to be in direct competition with captain Bruno Fernandes for one of United’s two central midfield roles.
Mainoo’s current predicament has caught the attention of several top clubs in Europe, with the midfielder said to be open to leaving Old Trafford in search of regular minutes.
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And the latest reports suggest that while United are not actively seeking to sell the academy graduate, they may be willing to cash in if an offer of around £45million is made for the midfielder.
However, former Red Devils defender O’Shea believes the club would be foolish to even entertain the idea of letting Mainoo go, given his age and potential to lead the club forward in years to come.
‘I found it a little strange that the manager mentioned that he was just in competition with Bruno (Fernandes), I just found it a bit strange to listen to,’ O’Shea told talkSPORT.
‘I know he’s probably just putting a bit of a challenge to him and saying: ‘Listen, that’s who you are up against’, given Bruno has been the top performer for the last few seasons.
‘It’s a little bit strange but hopefully it’s just a little wake-up call to do something a little bit different and rise to the challenge.
‘But he’s a quality player and United cannot afford to be losing him or selling him for any reason whatsoever.
‘He’s definitely, I hope, part of the future of the club that is going to be successful.’
United remain winless in the league this season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham last weekend, and O’Shea thinks the club should be focused on incomings – rather than outgoings – if they are to make up the ground on those above them.
‘They need a bit of help in the last week of the window to get really involved in that top-four chase,’ he added.
‘But the big thing for United will be the concentration on the league because they have no European football.
‘They have to get wins on the board because if they get a bit of momentum, it will be huge for them.
‘They’ll have a lot of time to get ready for games and have plenty of energy but they have to keep the squad happy and the only way to do that is by winning.’
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