Man Utd instructed to interrupt the financial institution for Casemiro alternative as five-man shortlist drawn up

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United have been warned they will have to break the bank to sign a replacement for Casemiro this summer with the in-form Brazilian set to depart at the end of the season

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Manchester United will have to replace Casemiro this summer(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

Manchester United have been warned they will have to break the bank to replace Casemiro this summer.

Casemiro will leave Old Trafford at the end of this season, as United look to reduce the club’s wage bill. The Brazilian superstar has been United’s highest paid player in recent times, on a deal worth almost £400,000-a-week. But United legend Bryan Robson insists it will cost the club another fortune to find someone capable of filling the boots of the former Real Madrid midfielder.

United have drawn up a shortlist that includes Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Real duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. And Robson knows none of these will come cheap.

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The former England and United captain told Betfred: “He (Casemiro) reads the game well. He’s strong in tackles and he’s a great passer of the ball.

“His overall game is really, really good. I think we’ll have to pay a lot of money to replace him, because he’s done a great job for us.

“The balance of the team looks pretty good at the moment, but we’ll have to do some work in the summer.”

With Casemiro heading for the Old Trafford exit, Robson knows it is imperative United keep captain Bruno Fernandes.

Robson admits the Portuguese international’s influence around the club is crucial to the team’s hopes of future success.

He added: “You look at his stats and they’re unbelievable, but he’s a great lad as well.

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“He’s a good lad around the place. He’s always got a smile on his face, works really hard in training and that goes onto the pitch on Saturday.

“The thing about him as well is that his fitness levels are really high and he never gets injured. He’s a fantastic player.”

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