Manchester United’s season has been somewhat underwhelming thus far this year.

Although Erik ten Hag appears to have somewhat righted the ship and the team’s mood certainly improved after Sunday’s thrilling victory over Liverpool, it still appears that Champions League qualifying may just be out of reach.

But there have been sporadic unexpected benefits, the most notable of which being Kobbie Maino’s rise to prominence.

United Kobbie-Mainoo-Man
The young player, who José Mourinho signed, has already seen his value surge and has been a breath of fresh air in the first team. At this point, he is valued more than a teammate.

This season’s transfer worth of Kobbie Mainoo

This season has been Mainoo’s trial by fire. Ten Hag has played him far more this year than most people anticipated, despite the fact that he made the occasional cameo and made his complete debut against Charlton Athletic in 2022–2023.

The talented player from Stockport has so far made 20 appearances for the Red Devils this season, 17 of which have been starts. If he hadn’t missed the opening portion of the season due to an ankle injury, he very well could have reached his 30-year mark by now.

Mainoo, Kobbie, Manchester United
The idea of playing for one of the greatest clubs in England, if not the biggest, would intimidate many young people, yet the 18-year-old prodigy always seems so composed and unaffected while he’s on the pitch.

It has even taken his manager by surprise how well he can keep his cool throughout the tightest of games. Ten Hag told the media following his late winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers, “He is sat in the dressing room like it is nothing at all.”

In addition, the 5’9″ powerhouse recently received his first senior England call-up, which has increased his worth recently along with his calm demeanour and exceptional skill.

He is valued at approximately €30 million, or £26 million, by the CIES Football Observatory, which is more than one of his senior teammates who has been with the team for almost seven years.

This season’s transfer value of Victor Lindelöf

The senior teammate in question is Victor Lindelöf, a Swedish international signed by the “special one” in June 2017 for an estimated £31 million.

The 22-year-old centre back for Benfica was considered one of the next big things at the moment, and Mourinho said of him, “Victor is a very talented young player who has a great future ahead of him at United.”

Premier League – Lindelof-Ten-Hag-Man – United Villa
Regretfully, in his six and a half years at Old Trafford, he has been a little lacklustre, even if he hasn’t been bad at all. He has a total of 256 appearances, 177 of which have been in the Premier League. This means that, on average, he plays barely 25 league games a season.

He has filled in for Ten Hag this season, covering 26 games at left back and centre back while Ten Hag has been sidelined with various defensive injuries. Once more, he hasn’t been awful, but he hasn’t been outstanding either.

United-1 Victor-Lindelof-Man
FBref, which evaluates players in comparable positions throughout Europe’s top five leagues, finds that the 6 foot 2 Swede isn’t all that remarkable in either capacity.

He is in the top 1% of full-backs in pass completion and the top 2% in aerial duels won, for instance, but he is in the worst 9% of full-backs in progressive passes, the bottom 8% in tackles, and the bottom 4% in progressive carries, all per ninety.

Victor Lindelöf’s Scout Report for FBref

Statistics for every 90

Complete-Back Percentile

Statistics for every 90

Center-Back Percentile

Obtain Pass Finish

Top 1%

Received Progressive Passes

Top 11%

Won Aerial Duel

Top 12%

Obtain Pass Finish

Top 13%

Verifications

Top 13%

Advance Carriers

upper 29%

Attempts to Pass

upper 22%

Helps

Top 31%

Interceptions

lower 44%

Clears the Attempt

upper 36%

In the Oppositions Box, touches

lower 22%

Blocks

upper 48%

Total Images

lowest 16%

Attacks

lower thirty percent

Helps

lowest 16%

Interceptions

lower 25%

Advance Passes

lower 9%

Advance Passes

lowest 24%

Attacks

lower 8%

Verifications

lower 21%

Advance Carriers

lowest 4%

Won Aerial Duel

lower 21%

Data from FBref, based on the top five leagues in Europe

He also ranks in the top 11% for progressive passes received, the top 29% for passes made, the top 48% for blocks, the bottom 30% for tackles, and the bottom 21% for aerial duels when compared to other centre backs, all per ninety.

Generally speaking, he is average at both positions, and as a result, the 29-year-old is only worth €20 million, which is roughly £17 million or £9 million less than Mainoo, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

United Champions League, Rasmus Hojlund Man
In the end, Lindelöf has contributed much to United throughout the years, but it is obvious that he will not be a member of the team’s upcoming championship run. It may therefore be appropriate to let him go in the summer, even if they won’t get much for him.