Manchester United have reportedly identified three players who could replace Casemiro next season, but Carlos Baleba is not among them. Casemiro, who joined the Red Devils four years ago, will leave Old Trafford when his contract runs down at the end of the campaign. His presence in the engine room will be sorely missed and it will be up to United to find a suitable successor.
That is because Baleba doesn’t feature on their three-player shortlist to replace Casemiro, according to the Daily Mail. It’s claimed that United are instead focusing their efforts on Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Sandro Tonali.
The report suggests they could even look to sign two midfielders, especially if Manuel Ugarte moves on at the end of the season.
United are expected to face stiff competition from their Premier League rivals, though, with Manchester City thought to be leading the race for Anderson as things stand.
It’s also reported that United are not expected to launch a move for Bruno Guimaraes despite being heavily linked with his signature earlier this month.
Claims that talks have already reached an advanced stage are thought to be wide of the mark, with Tonali said to be the only Newcastle midfielder on their shortlist.
United will also prioritise the addition of a left-sided player, with club scouts having watched Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown in their game against Heidenheim last week.
They will have more money to spend if they manage to secure Champions League qualification, while moving big earners like Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford off their wage bill should also help.
Casemiro will leave on a free transfer, with United having ripped up a clause in his contract that would trigger an extension if he makes 35 league starts this season.
Sancho is said to be in talks over a return to Borussia Dortmund when his contract runs out in June, while Rashford will join Barcelona on a permanent deal if the Spanish giants exercise the £26million purchase clause in his loan agreement.
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