Manchester United have a red ribbon in their eyes, and if they finish ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, they will be playing Champions League football next season.
The Premier League has not been an exciting hunting ground for the Red Devils in recent years, and last year’s 15th place finish under Ruben Amorim was a new low, exacerbated by a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
There have been many failures, but with Michael Carrick now in charge for a while, there is a strong feeling that changes have been made under the INEOS regime, and next summer’s transfer window offers a great opportunity to strengthen this strong position.
Whether Carrick will take the reins is uncertain at the moment, but Casemiro will leave when his contract expires and Man United will need a replacement in the top six.
Man Utd ready to sign Casemiro upgrade
Casemiro, 34, has been an active servant for Manchester United, and it is great to see him develop in the latter stages of his Premier League career.
Not much to say about it. INEOS has opted out of extending the Brazilian veteran’s contract by one year, and given the money involved and the need for change, it’s understandable.
However, it is now imperative that the Old Trafford side make the right call on his replacement, and while Premier League stars such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba have been earmarked, there is one man above all others who should be prioritized.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have chosen Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest as their dream to strengthen the Old Trafford field this summer. However, neighbors Manchester City are also keen, and various reports claim that Pep Guardiola’s side are leading the race.
The Englishman has emerged as one of the best in the business, and he won’t come cheap. In fact, he is valued at £100m by Tricky Trees.
Casemiro is on his way out, and the Red Devils need six new players. A variety of options have been flagged, but Anderson may have the team’s pick.
Why Anderson is the perfect upgrade for Casemiro
Anderson is not the only one on Jason Wilcox’s Manchester United shortlist: Newcastle’s Guimaraes and Tonali are both being recommended, and both are likely to come for the same fee as Anderson.
It is one of the three. Although Eddie Howe’s lieutenants have been more successful than Anderson, 23, there is reason for the Magpies boss to express regret at selling him to Forest, and his desire this season to bring him back to St. James’ Park.
Anderson is in the thick of it, in a way. He is well-placed to play alongside Declan Rice in England’s midfield at the World Cup this summer, with his strength taking him to the top of the Premier League.
Not only will Man United improve on the aging Casemiro as Anderson charges the engine room, but they will also get a better deal than investing in Tonali or Guimaraes, who has gone through the motions on Tyneside and finally turned 29 in November.
Anderson is still young and unproven, yet has been described as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” by England manager Thomas Tuchel.
And more successful as a number six than Tonali, his charm and intelligence work well as a complement to Guimaraes’ more structured heart of the pitch.
Is Anderson better than Guimaraes right now? There is certainly a case to be made there.
|
Premier League Comparison (25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Math (* in 90) |
Guimaraes |
Anderson |
|
The same (beginning) |
23 (22) |
31 (31) |
|
Terms + Help |
9 + 4 |
2 + 2 |
|
Contact* |
71.0 |
89.7 |
|
Accurate passes* |
44.3 (86%) |
55.4 (86%) |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
5 |
6 |
|
Key passes* |
1.7 |
1.5 |
|
Dribbles* |
0.6 (37%) |
1.3 (52%) |
|
Football recovery* |
4.7 |
8.4 |
|
Facing + meeting* |
2.7 |
4.0 |
|
Duels won* |
5.5 (50%) |
8.2 (55%) |
In fact, Guimaraes probably boasts a slightly wider pass distance. But whether Brazil’s genius needs to be prioritized when Bruno Fernandes rides the big wave is questionable, for sure.
In Anderson, Carrick (or whoever is given the permanent job) could find a versatile midfielder with a strong athletic body, whose potential is untapped – and yet he’s already competing against the likes of Guimaraes.
Could it be gambling? Anderson will cost a fortune, but he has proven himself in two successful years at Forest, first leading a high-flying outfit punching above their weight and then keeping the City Ground afloat as it threatened to sink.
The best is yet to come, and Wilcox needs to make sure it comes together at the Theater of Dreams.
Man Utd sold the complete Casemiro for £500k two years ago
Manchester United may have made a mistake by allowing one former player to leave Old Trafford.
