Manchester United have been handed fresh incentive to tie Kobbie Mainoo down to a new contract quickly, in the form of the biggest headache possible.

According to reports, the Old Trafford prodigy is shockingly the subject of interest from Chelsea and other rivals. They would seek to act opportunistically if Man United were backed into a corner and resigned to selling Mainoo.

His contract only runs out in 2027 - two-and-a-half years' time - though for an academy graduate in such high esteem, he was only one of four players not for sale during the recent summer window; the pressure is already growing.

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These revelations explain that Mainoo has personal concerns about the lack of Champions League football at Old Trafford.

As of now, Man United have not been good enough to make the Premier League's top four last season and seems to be the case again with 23 points from their opening 20 matches in 2024/25. What he might recognise is that Ruben Amorim's project is only just beginning.

And as the club continues their attempts to convince the midfielder to renew on improved terms, they can at least rest easier knowing that Mainoo is already exactly where he wishes to be.

The Stockport-born talent will have been dreaming of making his debut ever since signing for the club's academy at the age of nine. And he confirmed as much after netting the 97th-minute winner of a 4-3 thriller vs Wolves at Molineux on February 1, 2024.

"It is a dream come true. It is a tough place to come. We had to get the win. I have still not come down from it. I still feel like I am dreaming, to be honest," he told TNT Sports.

"To start playing in the Premier League for my boyhood club has been amazing. Now it's about trying to win more games."

That was Mainoo's ninth league appearance - now he has 52 to his name in all competitions. Amorim clearly holds his young midfielder in high regard, so will be hoping the dream can continue for the long run.