Manchester United agree £60m deal to sign Casemiro on a four-year contract from Real Madrid
Manchester United have agreed a £60million deal for Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro after a breakthrough in talks.
A medical is scheduled for the weekend and the Brazil international will sign a four-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year.
Casemiro told coach Carlo Ancelotti of his decision to join United as the two met for talks on Wednesday evening after the 30-year-old was informed by Madrid president Florentino Perez that he could choose whether he wished to stay or go.
Manchester United have agreed a £60million deal for Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro
He has spent his entire European career with Real Madrid bar a brief loan spell with Porto
Ancelotti values Casemiro highly and is loath to see him go as he has been instrumental to Madrid’s tactical set-up, winning 18 titles during his nine seasons there.
However, the midfielder is excited by the prospect of a new challenge in the Premier League of helping to revive United’s flagging fortunes while the lucrative figures on offer make economic sense for the club and player.
Casemiro has three years left on his contract with Real but following the signing of Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco his place is under threat. Casemiro was on the bench last week with Tchouameni starting.
A United delegation travelled to the Spanish capital earlier this week to sound out Madrid’s hierarchy about the prospective move and hope to have it completed by Monday.
Though Casemiro is not the profile of player United had first pursued, Erik ten Hag believes his experience and knowledge can prove invaluable to his new team.
Erik ten Hag has moved on to Casemiro after failing in his pursuit of Frenkie de Jong
United had wanted a ball-playing number six but Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong is more inclined to join Chelsea should he leave while the demands of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot were considered too high.
Once Casemiro is agreed, United will focus on adding a forward, right-back and back-up goalkeeper.
They retain an interest in loaning Christian Pulisic from Chelsea but have not held further talks at this stage. Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco has been discussed also this week while Ajax forward Antony and Cody Gakpo of PSV Eindhoven remain targets.
Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is the latest option to be discussed as cover for David de Gea.
Southampton are pressing to sign midfielder James Garner while defender Eric Bailly looks increasingly likely to join Marseille as they discuss a loan with option to buy for the centre-back.
If Casemiro does leave, Real Madrid will look to bring in Bruno Guimaraes as his replacement
Madrid are reportedly considering replacements for Casemiro as his transfer to United moves closer.
Despite having signed 22-year-old Aurelien Tchouameni in the summer the club, according to Diario AS, have made Bruno Guimaraes their No 1 option.
Newcastle’s Brazilian international is on a short list of names that also includes Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez.
Betis need to sell because they are currently over their permitted squad spend and unable to register new signings Willian Jose, Luiz Henrique and Luiz Felipe.
Manchester United have lost their first two Premier League games and sit bottom of the table
Adding physicality will be a plus for United after they were bullied in their 4-0 loss to Brentford on Saturday night.
Ten Hag received criticism after the game for starting such a small team in West London, with the selection of 5ft 9in centre back Lisandro Martinez proving especially unpopular.
Red Devils fans will be hoping for a much improved performance when they take on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday.
