Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has "verbally agreed" to a contract extension at Old Trafford after a fantastic return to form under Michael Carrick, according to the latest report. Despite having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim in one of the best examples of self-sabotage ever seen in English football, Mainoo was immediately reinstated to the starting eleven once Carrick took the reins in the wake of the Portuguese coach's dismissal. In the 11 games the 21-year-old midfielder has played under the interim boss, United have won eight times, drawn twice, and lost just once. It is the best run of form of any side in the Premier League in this period. The only match Mainoo was absent from, after picking up a minor knock in training, was the abject 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United - comfortably the worst performance of Carrick's tenure. The importance of the Carrington graduate is demonstrated by a startling statistic which shows United have picked up an average of 2.37 points per game with him starting - better than league leaders Arsenal's record - while Manuel Ugarte's inclusion has yielded just 0.75 points per match, worse than relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur. Mainoo was imperious on Saturday night in the crunch clash with Chelsea as United emerged with a 1-0 win, despite an injury crisis having ravaged the defence. In a post-match interview, Carrick said it was the best performance he had seen from the England international. INEOS are intent on building the team around Mainoo, who is seen as a cornerstone of the hierarchy's project moving forward. One of the main priorities this summer is revamping the midfield with two new signings that are complementary to him. Another urgent priority has been locking down the youngster's future in M16 as his contract is set to expire next year, though the club retains the right to trigger an automatic twelve-month extension. The two sides have been locked in negotiations over recent months, having seen talks break down during the first half of the campaign with Amorim at the helm. There was confidence from both parties that a deal would be struck; it was simply a question of numbers. The Sun reports United have tabled an offer worth in the region of £150,000 a week over five years, making Mainoo one of the top earners at the Theatre of Dreams. The midfielder has verbally approved the extension, with official confirmation set to come before the end of the current campaign. "Manchester United are aiming to announce a new contract for Kobbie Mainoo before the end of the season. Mainoo's representatives have made progress in the latest round of discussions over the last week and all parties believe it is a matter of time until there is an announcement. "United have verbally agreed a five-year deal with Mainoo, who...is set for a significant pay rise as his last renewal was in February 2023 when he was only 17. The midfielder's salary is expected to be around £150,000-a-week to reflect his starting status." Even the most ardent defender of Amorim's tumultuous tenure is unable to justify his exclusion of Mainoo at a time when United's midfield was so evidently lacking in quality. Carrick's switch to a 4-2-3-1 shape with the 21-year-old stationed next to the experienced Casemiro was a decision as effective as it was obvious. Foyr months ago, Mainoo was set to leave his boyhood club as his hopes of representing England at the World Cup were non-existent after failing to start a single league match under Amorim. Fast-forward to April, with Carrick at the wheel, the Salford native is a key cog in the best-performing side in England, looks a certainty to be on the plane to North America with the Three Lions squad in June, and is primed to sign a new bumper contract with the Red Devils. The Peoples Person has been one of the world's leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social