Manchester United have reportedly named three players to potentially replace Casemiro next season, but Carlos Baleva is not one of them. Casemiro, who joined the Red Devils four years ago, will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of this season. His presence in the engine room will be greatly missed and it will be up to United to find a suitable successor.
According to the Daily Mail, this is because Baleva is not on the list of three players to replace Casemiro. Instead, United are said to be focusing on Elliott Anderson, Adam Wharton and Sandro Tonali.
According to reports, the club could also consider signing two midfielders, especially if Manuel Ugarte leaves at the end of the season.
However, United are expected to face stiff competition from their Premier League rivals, with Manchester City currently thought to be leading the race to sign Anderson.
It has also been reported that United have no plans to make a move for Bruno Guimarães, despite being heavily linked with signing him earlier this month.
Claims that negotiations have already reached an advanced stage are thought to be unfounded, with Tonali said to be the only Newcastle midfielder on the shortlist.
United are also prioritizing reinforcements on the left, with the club’s scouts keeping an eye on Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Braun’s performance in last week’s game against Heidenheim.
Qualifying for the Champions League would give them more money to spend, while lowering the wages of big-money players such as Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford would also help.
Casemiro will leave on a free transfer, with United waiving a clause in his contract that would have given him an extension if he started 35 league games this season.
Sancho is said to be in talks to return to Borussia Dortmund when his contract expires in June, while Rashford will join Barcelona on a permanent deal if the Spanish giants exercise the £26m buy-out clause in his loan deal.
