Manchester United have rejected Kobbie Mainoo’s request for a loan move away from Old Trafford in the final hours of the transfer window, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The Stockport-born midfielder told club bosses that he wanted to leave on a temporary basis on Thursday morning after being benched by head coach Ruben Amorim for both of United’s Premier League games so far this season. The England international, who did play in Wednesday’s humiliating defeat by Grimsby Town, wanted to gain first-team football elsewhere in order to impress national team boss Thomas Tuchel, who is set to leave Mainoo out of his England squad for next month’s European qualifiers.

Fulham had enquired about Mainoo’s availability in the aftermath of the midfielder being an unused substitute at Craven Cottage on Sunday. But United have ‘refused to sanction’ a loan move, according to Ornstein, and expect Mainoo to fight for his place in the Old Trafford starting line-up. It remains to be seen what the next steps for the talented midfielder – because the finances of a permanent transfer are beyond most of his suitors.