Barcelona want to sign ‘incredibly good’ Manchester United star

Barcelona are targeting Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo as their first signing of the summer despite well-documented financial problems.

The transfer window opened on Friday and there has been much speculation as to what changes the new owner and man in charge of football operations will make at Old Trafford ahead of next season.

Manager Erik ten Hag now remains in what looks to be quite a strong turnaround. Before the FA Cup final when United beat rivals Manchester City, the Guardian had suggested he would be sacked and the club have reportedly spoken to a number of potential replacements after they finished eighth in the Premier League last season. Ten Hag has now won two trophies in as many seasons since arriving from Ajax in 2022.

Mainoo headed to Spain?

But reports in Belgium suggest that United may need to fight for Mainoo, who was last season’s breakout star and success story. The club are said to be aware that Barcelona are circling and are keen to discuss a new contract with the player. His current contract has three years to run.

Mainoo, 19, is currently away at the European Championships as England prepare to face Serbia on Sunday. Given Barcelona’s financial difficulties, it seems hard to see how they could afford a player of Mainoo’s quality and potential, or that the player, who came through the club’s academy, would want to leave the Red Devils.

Mainoo’s performances since his arrival have made him one of the most talked about English footballers, but last season the Ten Hag had a warning for both him and Alejandro Garnacho, who also impressed at Old Trafford last season.

“Incredibly good,” he said TNT Sports’ Rio Ferdinand when asked about their development. “But they’re just at the beginning of the journey, and that’s what they need to understand as well.

“They’re in the first team now, but getting here is a lot easier than staying here and it’s going to be a big fight for them (to do that).”

It’s all change at Barcelona since the former Germany and Bayern Munich boss replaced Xavi as coach. The Blaugrana finished second in La Liga, ten points behind rivals Real Madrid, and although chairman Joan Laporta initially convinced Xavi to stay after he resigned last campaign, the decision was ultimately made to break up

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