Manchester United are at a crossroads as uncertainty lingers over their direction under Ineos.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group's arrival as co-owners at Old Trafford last year was universally welcomed. The appointments of Omar Berrada as CEO and Dan Ashworth as sporting director were heralded - with United finally having football experts in charge of footballing decisions.

Fast-forward 12 months, and Ashworth is gone - with last summer's expenditure widely criticised as well as the disastrous decision to retain Erik ten Hag before sacking the Dutchman just months into the season. Ruben Amorim's appointment was praised, but there are already debates over whether the Portuguese is perhaps out of his depth just four months into his tenure, but he will ultimately be judged with the right recruitment.

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Success may still happen under the former Sporting CP boss, and Ineos' questionable decision-making so far could eventually pay off. The mess at M16 is not entirely of Ineos' making, with the Glazer family escaping scrutiny in large quarters for the club's financial mess, at least in more recent times.

But it appears as though star players might already be showing their hand over United's direction under Ineos. The Guardian claim that Kobbie Mainoo is minded to reject the offer of a new contract at ­Old Trafford and seek a move abroad.

With just two years left on his current deal, United might eventually have to sell. The Reds' PSR position will likely force their hand.

It is claimed that United value Mainoo at around £70million, but the question is whether any foreign club would be able to afford that fee. That is a price which only Premier League clubs tend to pay, unless you're Real Madrid - who may be too big of a step up for the English midfielder right now.

Mainoo's reported stance would not have happened if United had a promising medium to long-term vision. Few players would want to leave a club whose first-team looks set to challenge for the game's biggest trophies.

The question is whether any other promising young players have the same apparent doubts as Mainoo. United will be relieved that Amad has signed a new contract, but even the Ivory Coast forward must be looking at the current situation and questioning his decision.

It is a long, long way back to the top for the Reds, but the hope is that any pain felt now will lead to longer-term success. That path has only grown more unclear, though, and supporters will be wondering whether more players will soon begin to question their future at M16.