With Brazilian midfielder Casemiro expected to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, the club are already looking for his successor, primarily within the Premier League.
Having arrived from Real Madrid in 2022, the now 34-year-old defensive midfielder has endured a mixed spell at Old Trafford relative to the expectations placed upon him. Frequently sidelined by injury and often underwhelming on the pitch, Casemiro is unlikely to be offered a contract extension, with his current deal expiring in June 2026.
Michael Carrick's side, currently third in the Premier League, are already scouring the market for a replacement. Spanish outlet AS has revealed the names on the club's radar, which differ slightly from the shortlist reported by The United Stand.
Manchester United ready to spend £170m
According to AS, Manchester United have enormous ambitions and are prepared to spend up to €200m (£170m) on this position, a figure thought to include both the transfer fee and the player's wages. Frequently mentioned by various sources, Italy international Sandro Tonali is named as one of the primary targets. The midfielder, who is also being tracked by Real Madrid, is expected to leave Newcastle this summer for a fee in the region of £85m (€100m).
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Whether the Magpies would also be willing to part with Bruno Guimaraes remains to be seen. The 28-year-old Brazilian is nevertheless on Manchester United's shortlist, having been monitored by Manchester City last summer. The third major target is Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson. The 23-year-old is already the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Two additional options for Manchester United
Behind those three players, Manchester United have two further options, both also in the Premier League. The first leads to Crystal Palace and Adam Wharton. The 22-year-old Englishman is a major target for Liverpool, with a potential price tag of around £98m (€115m). The second is Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes, who has been at Wolverhampton since 2023. The 25-year-old is viewed as more of a secondary option behind the other names mentioned.
A direct qualification for the Champions League would allow Manchester United to attract top-level players this summer, not only to replace Casemiro but also potentially Bruno Fernandes, whose departure has been increasingly discussed in the media.
