With the veteran Brazilian midfielder announcing that he will be leaving Old Trafford in the summer, Jason Wilcox and co. are shopping local for his replacement
Manchester United are moving quickly to reshape their midfield ahead of the summer window, with plans already taking shape following Casemiro’s confirmed departure from the club at the end of the season.
The Brazilian’s impending exit has accelerated internal discussions at Old Trafford, where recruitment staff are now focused on identifying younger, Premier League proven replacements capable of anchoring the next phase of the squad.
Casemiro’s departure will close a four-season chapter in Manchester and free up a significant salary commitment. His decision comes at a time when United are reassessing the balance and structure of their midfield, particularly with uncertainty also surrounding the future of Bruno Fernandes.
The United captain has a £52 million release clause that can be triggered by clubs outside the Premier League, and while there is no immediate indication that an exit is imminent, the clause is a factor in ongoing planning.
United’s recruitment focus has reportedly narrowed to four standout midfielders from within the Premier League.
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Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have all been identified as candidates to form part of a reworked midfield unit.
The Telegraph reports that, out of the aforementioned four, the intention is to secure two of them as part of a broader rebuild in midfield.
Funding the rebuild and tough decisions ahead
The obvious question surrounding United’s strategy is how such spending could be justified. talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook pointed to a series of potential departures that would significantly reduce the wage bill and create room for reinvestment.
“Casemiro’s wages off the books will be a big thing. They’re going to get some money for Marcus Rashford,” Crook explained.
He also highlighted further potential savings, adding that “Jadon Sancho and Rashford’s wages also off the payroll, so there is some cash to be freed up.”
Those exits would reshape the financial picture at Old Trafford and align with United’s wider efforts to regain control of squad costs. However, Crook also raised the possibility of a far more contentious move involving Fernandes.
“You also wonder about Bruno Fernandes,” he said. “We know he has a release clause that a European club can trigger. Do they decide to cash in on their captain to strengthen that key area of the pitch.”
It should be noted that United’s interest in Baleba is not new. The club made an attempt to sign the Brighton midfielder late in the previous summer window but were not prepared or able to meet the Seagulls’ £100 million valuation at the time. Baleba remains a target for the 2026 summer window, but his continued progress has only increased competition and complexity.