Kobbie Mainoo is unhappy with Manchester United's first offer of a new contract, prompting the club to make a U-turn on his future.
Mainoo, 19, already has a long-term deal with United which doesn't expire until 2027, plus the option of a further 12 months, having been rewarded for his breakthrough into the first-team two years ago. But the Red Devils are currently in talks to give him an improved deal, with Premier League rivals Chelsea said to be ready to take advantage if negotiations turn sour.
United don't want to lose Mainoo, although will now listen to serious bids for the England international. That's a U-turn on their stance from earlier this year when he, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund were the only three players deemed 'untouchable'.
Now that number is down to only two, with £52million summer signing Leny Yoro and breakout star Amad being given higher status than the trio, who've had difficult seasons so far. That leaves Mainoo open to bids and although United aren't actively looking to sell him amid their need for cash in the January transfer window, there was disappointment in the midfielder's camp at their initial offer.
The Manchester Evening News report that Mainoo was left unhappy when he discovered the fresh terms offered to him by the club. The 19-year-old could therefore end his decade-long stay if both parties fail to reach a resolution.
It's been reported elsewhere that Mainoo is demanding wages of £200,000 per week, 10 times what he's rumoured to earn at present. That puts the club in a tricky position, as overspending in the past few years has put them at risk of breaking the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
New manager Ruben Amorim - whose hiring cost United a total of £21m, as they also had to pay off the sacked Erik ten Hag - won't be able to buy any players in January until sales are completed. Asked about their plans for the transfer window last week, Amorim replied: "When the window is open, we can try to do something and we will try to do something.
"But I think, in the next weeks, we are going to have more time to train and we can improve, that's the only way. We had a lot of games without training, now we will have more space to grow. You can see that the context is worse in this moment, as we had a lot of losses, so we have to manage everything."