Cole Palmer sparked speculation with a mysterious comment on Kobbie Mainoo’s recent Instagram post, stirring conversation among fans.
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Despite reportedly asking for a loan move, Mainoo stayed at Manchester United past Monday’s transfer deadline. ..Continue Reading
United boss Ruben Amorim confirmed his desire to retain the 20-year-old midfielder, even though Mainoo was left out of the squad for the club’s first two Premier League fixtures.
He finally saw action in the second half of United’s 3-2 victory over Burnley last weekend, marking his first league appearance of the campaign.
As expected, Mainoo was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
Instead, he’s focused on training at United’s Carrington base, aiming to reclaim a spot in Amorim’s starting lineup.
Palmer, currently away with the England national team, dropped a curious comment under Mainoo’s latest post, adding fuel to fan theories.
The Chelsea playmaker wrote: “3 my guy.”
Another eye-catching image in the same post sparked plenty of fan speculation.
It showed a scene from the movie Whiplash, where the protagonist pushes himself to the limit to reclaim his spot in the lead ensemble — a metaphor many interpreted as Mainoo’s own battle for recognition.
Chelsea and Manchester United were active trading partners this summer, with the Blues securing Alejandro Garnacho in a £40 million deal.
The London club had also taken Jadon Sancho on loan the previous year, while United brought Mason Mount over from Stamford Bridge in 2023.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea did not pursue Kobbie Mainoo before the transfer window closed.
Instead, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Everton reportedly showed interest in a loan move for the young England midfielder.
Each of those clubs managed to bolster their midfield options before the deadline — Spurs landed Xavi Simons, Villa brought in Harvey Elliott, and Everton completed a deal for Merlin Rohl.
Chelsea’s only midfield signing was Facundo Buonanotte, who arrived on loan from Brighton.
With Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, and returning loanee Andrey Santos all available, manager Enzo Maresca appears confident his current squad can carry the team through the season — at least until the January window opens.