As the January transfer window progresses, Manchester United continue to scour the market for options to bolster Ruben Amorim’s squad.

However, their most important move of the winter window would be keeping hold of their midfield starlet Kobbie Mainoo, who has been linked with a shock move to Chelsea amid United’s struggles to stay in line with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

United’s options in midfield are limited as it is, and losing Mainoo would be nothing short of a disaster, as the club would struggle to find a young player who has anywhere near the amount of talent and potential of the 19-year-old, who has proven himself to be a vital member of the United team after only 18 months of consistent first-team involvement.

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The Manchester Evening News has reported that Mainoo would like to remain at Old Trafford, which is a welcome dose of positive news for United fans who have been vocal in wanting the academy talent to stay as a permanent fixture in the centre of the pitch for the club.

Mainoo’s breakthrough season saw him gain the adoring support of the United faithful with him having a number of standout moments in a red shirt in his debut campaign. His iconic FA Cup Final winner against rivals Manchester City saw him sweep the ball home in a moment that emphasised his ability to remain composed in the most important game of United’s season, highlighting his level of maturity for a player that is still only a teenager.

It is not just Mainoo’s performances at club level that have earned him respect from the wider football community; the United man was a key part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad that reached the Euro 2024 final with Mainoo playing as if he was a seasoned professional, despite the tournament coming at the end of his first full season as a senior player.

Even though Mainoo’s potential sale would help United get out of a potential hole in regards to their PSR problems, it would be nothing short of a travesty for the club’s future ambitions, as Mainoo will surely be a core part of Ruben Amorim’s plans to build a squad that is capable of restoring United’s former glory.

The list of potential midfield replacements for the academy prodigy is uninspiring when the players named are pitted against the current United no.37, with his all-round abilities being a profile that is hard to find in the current market.

If United can get through the January window without losing their most significant academy graduate in recent times, it would be a more successful result than any other signing that they may potentially make in the coming weeks.