Manchester United have rewarded Kobbie Mainoo with a new long-term contract and a marked pay rise, reportedly worth around £150,000 per week, equivalent to roughly $202,000. The extension is understood to run until 2031 and arrives after a period in which Mainoo moved from occasional appearances under Erik ten Hag to a breakthrough in the 2023–24 campaign.

The midfielder finished that season with a goal in the FA Cup final and later started for England in the Euro 2024 final. His progress had stalled at times amid injuries and doubts over whether Ruben Amorim would pair him with Bruno Fernandes rather than replace the club captain. Those issues prompted speculation about an Old Trafford exit rather than an extension of a deal previously set to expire in 2027.

The arrival of Michael Carrick in the coaching staff coincided with a reversal of Mainoo’s fortunes. Now a regular starter in a side back in the Champions League, Mainoo has secured what media reports describe as a “bumper” increase, taking his weekly pay to the $202,000 area according to the Daily Mail. That figure is almost double what he could command across the previous three years but remains well below Manchester United’s top earners.

Casemiro is widely viewed as the club’s top earner and is understood to be on about $470,000 per week, a sum that helps explain United’s willingness to move him on. Bruno Fernandes sits in a similar top bracket and is thought to earn around $405,000 per week, per The Telegraph. Marcus Rashford would be entitled to a comparable wage should he return from his loan at Barcelona at season’s end, as expected.

Elsewhere in the squad, Matheus Cunha signed for roughly $270,000 per week after his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matthijs de Ligt was reported on about $260,000 per week, while Benjamin Šeško’s deal was reported at around $216,000 per week by Sportklub. Bryan Mbeumo is cited at $202,000 per week by The Guardian, the same figure attributed to Mainoo.

“I think it was also important that Benjamin’s desire has always been Manchester United,” Elvis Basanovič revealed. “Because of that, he was willing to accept a slightly lower salary and I also accepted a lower commission.”

A simple ranking of weekly wages reported in public sources places Casemiro first on $470,000, Bruno Fernandes second on $405,000, followed by Matheus Cunha ($270,000), Matthijs de Ligt ($260,000), Benjamin Šeško ($216,000), and a tie at $202,000 for Bryan Mbeumo and Kobbie Mainoo.

Harry Maguire has pointed to a clearer structure and results-driven momentum since Michael Carrick took interim charge in January. The captain highlighted the change in outcomes after a period of inconsistency under Ruben Amorim.

No new signings arrived in the January transfer window, a factor linked in reports to a recruitment disagreement between Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox. That context means Carrick has taken charge of the exact same group of players.

Since the managerial change, Carrick has taken 29 points from 39 on offer, winning nine of 13 matches. By contrast, Amorim collected 31 points from the opening 20 Premier League matches of this campaign. Across the two spells the records read: Ruben Amorim, 20 matches, 8-7-5, 1.55 points per game; Michael Carrick, 13 matches, 9-2-2, 2.2 points per game. Darren Fletcher also managed one match as caretaker, a draw against Burnley.

United had lost only five times in the league before Amorim was dismissed this season, but the club had been beaten 14 times under his guidance across 2024–25, a campaign that finished in 15th place.

“The results speak for themselves,” Maguire told Sky Sports, reflecting on the consistency and positive momentum that has emerged in recent months.

“Since the manager has come in, and the formation has changed, we just ‌seemed to pick up results. Games previously, when Ruben was here, were 50/50, but we always ended up on the back of a defeat. Now it seems like it’s the other way around, where we’re a lot better in both boxes. We defend our ⁠box a lot better, ⁠and we’re managing to ‌be clinical in the other box.”

Amorim had arrived with tactical ideas that produced titles at Sporting CP, deploying a 3-4-2-1 system that did not translate at United. When he briefly altered tactics for the win at Newcastle on Dec. 26 the team improved, but reverting back produced draws in the following two matches. Fletcher restored a 4-2-3-1 in his caretaker game, a structure Carrick has maintained.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens praised Carrick’s clarity and simplicity. “The first thing was [Carrick’s] ability to make everything quite clear and [present] a direct message. He didn’t make it too difficult for us,” Lammens told The Athletic at the time.

Carrick’s run has put Manchester United on course to return to the Champions League and strengthened his case for the permanent job while he remains in temporary charge until the summer.

The run-up to the 2026 World Cup is shaping as much around rehabilitation as selection. Across Europe several of the game’s most influential internationals are carrying injuries that have already curtailed club seasons or left their participation in doubt.

Lamine Yamal’s hamstring problem has ruled him out for the remainder of the season with Barcelona, though the club have insisted he should feature at the World Cup. Estêvão and Arda Güler have also suffered hamstring injuries and been ruled out for the rest of their club campaigns at Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively. Reports say Güler is still set to appear at his first World Cup.

Some long-serving figures have been struck down too. Luka Modrić suffered a fractured cheekbone in AC Milan’s match with Juventus and will miss the rest of the Serie A season. Cristian Romero suffered a season-ending knee injury in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge of Tottenham and was in tears at the time; his availability for the tournament remains unclear.

Mohamed Salah’s club season ended with an unflattering final touch for Liverpool, and his previous World Cup involvement in Russia was affected by fitness concerns after a dislocated shoulder in the Champions League final. Éder Militão has again gone down with a hamstring issue and has been ruled out for the rest of the club season alongside Güler, with recent reports suggesting his injury may be worse than first feared.

Mikel Merino has been absent since undergoing surgery on a fractured foot in January but is expected to be considered by Spain. Dejan Kulusevski is still working his way back after nearly a year out and admitted: “I haven’t played in a year. I know what the chances are,” and added, “But if there is one person on the planet who can do this, I would bet on myself. And we are not just going there to participate. Sweden will aim to be one of the best.”

Other concerns include Matthijs de Ligt, sidelined since November with a back problem but back on the grass at Carrington, Reece James with a fresh hamstring setback, Mohammed Kudus whose comeback was ended by a new quad issue and Joško Gvardiol after a broken leg in the new year. For all of them the coming weeks will determine whether they travel in June.