Boss makes statement on midfielder Chelsea very interested in signing

Ruben Amorim does not want to sell Kobbie Mainoo – but admitted it will be hard for Manchester United to keep all their homegrown players amid the stunning speculation that CHELSEA are interested in a potential deal

United are in a strong position when it comes to the 19-year-old as he still has more than two years left on his contract and the Red Devils have an option to extend it by a further 12 months.

But Amorim insisted he is keen to keep the 19-year-old at Old Trafford: ‘Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club,’ Amorim told a press conference ahead of his FA Cup third-round tie with Arsenal.

‘But we know the position that this club is in at this moment, we will see but I really like our players, especially from our academy. I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving and also Garnacho.

Speaking more generally about United’s transfer policy, Amorim dismissed the idea that he wants new signings urgently but said the club must be smarter in the transfer market, including when it comes to cashing in on academy talent.

‘The first thing, I think, I don’t remember saying that I clearly want new players,’ he said.

‘What I said is that sometimes the profile for this system is different and many players came here with a different of idea how to play. So I don’t remember saying so clearly that I want new players.’

‘But we need to improve recruitment,’ he continued. ‘When we are targeting players we need to be sure that they will cope with the demands.

‘We have to improve the academy to bring young kids [though] that feel the club in the right way and also so that we can do business and have money to invest in the team.’

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