Louis Saha: Mainoo Needs To Earn New Contract; Palmer Would Be Great Signing

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has told Kobbie Mainoo to prove he deserves a new contract.

The midfielder struggled for game time under Ruben Amorim, but he has been given a new lease of life with Michael Carrick at the helm until at least the end of the season.

Mainoo, whose contract expires in 2027, had expressed a desire to go out on loan in January in order to get more minutes under his belt in a World Cup year.

However, the 20-year-old England international played every minute of United's victories over Manchester City and Premier League leaders Arsenal during which he covered more distance than any other player in both matches.

Saha, who scored 28 Premier League goals in four and a half years at Old Trafford between 2004-08, spoke exclusively with casino comparison site Gambling.com about what Mainoo needs to do, and also addressed United's reported interest in Cole Palmer.

When asked whether Mainoo should sign a new deal with United or look to join another club, possibly in Europe, Saha urged the youngster to focus on improving his game rather than his future.

He said: "No, no, no, I think this is good talk for the media and his agent. What he has to do is score more goals, assist more, play well and progress. That's it.

"When people talk about contracts and stuff like this, you know, it's not good for him. He's only a young player who, yes, maybe played for England and has a World Cup to look forward to. He has to improve. That's it.

"Why are they thinking about a contract extension, moving away, looking at Scott McTominay’s career or whatever? It's wrong. Just play, just play, just play, improve every day. It's two games, that's not enough.

"He needs to score maybe 10 goals and then be the main man in midfield with Casemiro, and then people will give him the contract he wants. That's it. He doesn't need anyone else to speak about this extension, and think about this now.

"It's just about focusing on this game. He hasn't played for many months. He was on the bench. Now it's time for consistency. Get 15 games under his belt, bring him to the World Cup and see how it goes." 

Amorim And Mainoo Share Blame

Saha believes Amorim could have handled Mainoo better, but he also feels the youngster struggled to adapt to the system demanded by the former Sporting head coach.

On who was responsible for failing to integrate Mainoo in Amorim's formation, Saha said: "It was a bit of both because, obviously, Amorim had different plans. 

"With those plans, it needed a bit of a different type of player in midfield. That doesn't mean at all that Kobbie Mainoo was not a good player.

"It's just that he did not fit the style of Amorim, so that's why it's fair to him. He's the manager, and he decided to challenge the player and make him improve in a certain way to actually bring something else to his game. Maybe Amorim was really fixed on that, really focused on that.

"I think maybe in some games he was wrong, in some others he was not. Some, as I said, we definitely needed more legs or more confidence, more, let's say, capacity to break down the opposition. It was not the case.

"We were too slow, and now, because of a different type of game and rhythm, we managed to get Mainoo and other players in that kind of frame where those guys are playing without the need to run around like a chicken without a head.

"So it's a different type of mentality, and every manager learns; they are still learning. Even Alex Ferguson, at his age, in his prime, was still learning from games where he made these mistakes.

"I think Amorim will see a few things that he could have done better and a few he did really well. Michael Carrick will make mistakes as well, and Kobbie Mainoo could be less of the focal point, because he's going to be in a team that's working."

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Palmer Would Be 'Terrific' Addition

Cole Palmer has been linked with a move to Manchester United amid speculation he is unsettled at Chelsea, although this season he has been hampered by injuries.

Palmer, a United supporter, joined the Blues from Manchester City on transfer deadline day on a seven-year contract during the 2023/24 season.

One report suggested Palmer is homesick and that he would return to City if Pep Guardiola left the club, but there are rumours that United are interested in signing the 23-year-old attacking midfielder.

Saha would welcome a player of Palmer's quality at Old Trafford and compared his early impact with that made by a United legend.

"If it's like being homesick, as I heard, why not? Even if he is a City boy, I do think that he's a special talent - one of the best I've seen, just like when Wayne Rooney arrived on the scene. Palmer has done pretty much the same," Saha said.

He added: "I do think that this season has been difficult, he's been injured, had a few managers, but also a lot of players have moved positions and all that. It’s been extremely hard to actually get an understanding about how to perform. 

"So, yes, it would be a terrific move if Man United decide to go for him."