Gareth Southgate is reportedly set to hold talks with Kobbie Mainoo to convince the player to play for England instead of his country Ghana.
Kobbie Mainoo piqued the England manager's interest with his outstanding performance in United's 3-0 win against Everton.
Mainoo, 18, was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and he has also represented the Three Lions at multiple age levels.
He recently led England's U19 team to win the yearly Marbella Cup, and he helped Simon Rusk's team defeat Mexico 7-1 with two assists.
A few days later, Mainoo had another brilliant performance for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League; Roy Keane called it "outstanding" after the near-perfect showing.
With his first-team debut earlier this year, the United youth product certainly left his mark at the Old Trafford.
Gareth Southgate is 'desperate' to see Mainoo commit his future to England after Sunday's match at Goodison Park, given that he is still eligible to represent Ghana thanks to his parents' citizenship.
According to recent reports, Mainoo might be rushed into the England U21 squad to speed up the process, but that wouldn't ensure his future.
According to FIFA regulations, footballers are free to change allegiances as long as they have only appeared in three senior matches and those games occurred while they were less than 21 years old.
Apart from the criteria mentioned above, a player's last game for the nation they want to leave must have been three years ago as well.
Kobbie Boateng Mainoo is an English footballer who was born on 19 April 2005 and plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United.
Mainoo was born in Stockport, and started his youth career at Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club, before joining Manchester United at the age of nine.
The England international signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in May 2022, and his outstanding display against Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy earned him a first-team call-up.
On October 16, he was initially named to the bench in preparation for a Premier League match against Newcastle United.
Mainoo made his competitive debut on 10 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic, and made his league debut on 19 February by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Leicester City.
During Manchester United's 2023–24 preseason tour in the United States, Mainoo traveled with the team.
However, he sustained an injury that would prevent him from playing at the beginning of the next season.
Following his injury recovery, Mainoo started his first competitive match for Manchester United on November 26, 2023, as the team defeated Everton 3-0 on the road in the Premier League.
Kobbie Mainoo piqued the England manager's interest with his outstanding performance in United's 3-0 win against Everton.
Mainoo, 18, was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and he has also represented the Three Lions at multiple age levels.
He recently led England's U19 team to win the yearly Marbella Cup, and he helped Simon Rusk's team defeat Mexico 7-1 with two assists.
A few days later, Mainoo had another brilliant performance for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League; Roy Keane called it "outstanding" after the near-perfect showing.
With his first-team debut earlier this year, the United youth product certainly left his mark at the Old Trafford.
Gareth Southgate is 'desperate' to see Mainoo commit his future to England after Sunday's match at Goodison Park, given that he is still eligible to represent Ghana thanks to his parents' citizenship.
According to recent reports, Mainoo might be rushed into the England U21 squad to speed up the process, but that wouldn't ensure his future.
According to FIFA regulations, footballers are free to change allegiances as long as they have only appeared in three senior matches and those games occurred while they were less than 21 years old.
Apart from the criteria mentioned above, a player's last game for the nation they want to leave must have been three years ago as well.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Boateng Mainoo is an English footballer who was born on 19 April 2005 and plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United.
Mainoo was born in Stockport, and started his youth career at Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club, before joining Manchester United at the age of nine.
The England international signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in May 2022, and his outstanding display against Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy earned him a first-team call-up.
On October 16, he was initially named to the bench in preparation for a Premier League match against Newcastle United.
Mainoo made his competitive debut on 10 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic, and made his league debut on 19 February by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Leicester City.
During Manchester United's 2023–24 preseason tour in the United States, Mainoo traveled with the team.
However, he sustained an injury that would prevent him from playing at the beginning of the next season.
Following his injury recovery, Mainoo started his first competitive match for Manchester United on November 26, 2023, as the team defeated Everton 3-0 on the road in the Premier League.