Man Utd spend 100 million pounds or give Mainoo a chance
Scholes likens Mainoo to Zidane; valued at £55.4m, higher than Elliot Anderson's £45.6m, but Man Utd are still considering spending £100m and using him sparingly under Ruben Amorim.
£100m could be spent by Man Utd on Elliot Anderson, while Kobbie Mainoo – 20, compared by Paul Scholes to Zinedine Zidane and valued higher than Anderson – has been used less under Ruben Amorim. The problem is no longer a lack of personnel, but how to make decisions: expensive purchases or put faith in existing talent.
Midfield situation: Bruno needs a partner, Casemiro is no longer long-term
The problem in midfield is clear: Bruno Fernandes needs a reliable partner to share the load, and Casemiro, at 33, is not the answer for the future. Under INEOS, Man Utd are targeting Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), 23, a complete midfielder who is leading the Premier League in many important indicators according to sources. However, the expected cost of this deal is up to 100 million pounds, which is especially difficult to balance in the January transfer window.
Mainoo – available assets wasted
Mainoo exploded in 2023/24, scoring the winner against Wolves, scoring in the FA Cup final and securing a place at Euro 2024 with England. However, under Ruben Amorim, his playing time has stagnated: just 12 starts in the past 12 months and no Premier League starts in 2025/26.
Expert voice: Scholes and the comparison with Zidane
Paul Scholes has described Mainoo as “the closest thing” to Zinedine Zidane he has ever seen, particularly in his ability to receive the ball and escape pressure. For such a highly-rated young midfielder, the lack of playing time raises questions about how Man Utd are using their resources.
Financial data: valuation and spending risk
According to FootballTransfers, Mainoo’s market value is £55.4m – higher than Elliot Anderson’s £45.6m. In that context, considering spending £100m on Anderson when a “homegrown” talent is being overlooked is a questionable choice in terms of strategic and financial logic.
Tactical angle of use: coupled with Bruno, structural stability
Bruno Fernandes needs a partner who can receive the ball under pressure and escape pressing to maintain the rhythm of attack – qualities Scholes highlighted when talking about Mainoo. Giving Mainoo a regular starting role would not only lighten the load for Bruno but also provide continuity to the midfield structure, rather than relying entirely on expensive transfers.
Long-term impacts: opportunity costs and the philosophy of using academia
Using Mainoo will save Man Utd a lot of money and invest in an asset that can be a mainstay for years to come. With a tight fixture list, managing minutes and giving trust is key to extracting value from the available resources.
Selected statistics
- £100m: the figure Man Utd are considering for Elliot Anderson.
- £55.4m: Kobbie Mainoo valuation (FootballTransfers).
- £45.6m: Elliot Anderson valuation (FootballTransfers).
- 12: Mainoo's number of starts in the last 12 months.
- 0: Mainoo's number of starts in the 2025/26 Premier League.
Between the two paths – splash the cash or take a chance – the current facts support a consistent decision: utilize and develop Kobbie Mainoo, before considering a “blockbuster” solution.
