Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag makes transfer U-turn on Casemiro… but future looks bleak for one of his midfield team-mates
ERIK TEN HAG has shelved plans to get rid of Casemiro after being impressed with him in pre-season and the start of the new campaign.
The relationship between the pair had broken down towards the end of last season
He looked overweight and unfit this time last year and never found his best form during a season which saw Manchester United finish eighth.
There were also injury issues that kept the Brazilian out for three months from the start of November.
He also missed the FA Cup final after only being named on the bench before then pulling out the squad with what as referred to as a late injury issue.
It was felt a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia would end the player’s career at United halfway through his four-year contract.
That prospect, however, is understood to have given the 32-year-old a jolt.
The five-time Champions League winner is said to have been reluctant to see his career end in the Middle East when he felt he could still contribute to United.
So Casemiro returned to the squad last month looking fit and ready for action.
He played well in the Community Shield which United were unlucky to lose on penalties to Manchester City.
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The five-time Champions League winner was then arguably the man of the match last Friday in the season’s opener against Fulham which United won 1-0.
The future of Scott McTominay, however, remains less clear.
The manager wants to keep him but will not stop him from moving if an offer of around £35million comes in.
There is no lack of interest with Napoli the latest to make an inquiry.
Fulham had been interested but yesterday landed Sander Berge for £20million plus £5million in add ons.
United had been interested in Berge themselves but Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte remains their main target.
McTominay is currently torn between staying at United as a valuable squad member or getting more regular starts elsewhere.
United’s move for another midfielder in Ugarte is currently being held up by the French club’s asking price of £50million.
Also United feel they need to sell more players before they do any deal for the 23-year-old Uruguayan to not leave them on a knife edge with regards to spending restrictions.
Another plan could be to get Ugarte on loan with an option to buy.
Ideally United want to offload Jadon Sancho for a decent fee.
There is interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund, with whom he spent the second half of last season on loan.
Juventus has also expressed an interest, but so far, neither has met United’s cut price valuation of £35miilion for a player they themselves spent £73million on three seasons ago.
The club are close to agreeing two more outgoings with Facundo Pellistri on his way to Panathinaikos and Hannibal Mejbri to Burnley.
Both deals will be for between around £9million to £10m with add ons.
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