It seems like there will be a lot of change at Manchester United this summer. The Red Devils squad certainly needs a refresh if this season is anything to go by, so there could well be a lot of change at Old Trafford in the next few months.
One area of the pitch that United could look to recruit in is midfield. They were recently linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who could cost anywhere in the region of £42m.
In terms of departures, Christian Eriksen seems almost guaranteed to leave upon the expiration of his contract.
Another player’s future who is up in the air is Casemiro.
The latest on Casemiro's future at Old Trafford
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for United under the ownership of the Glazers has been the amount of money they spend on weekly wages. In recent years, the best example of that is Casemiro, who currently earns £350k-per-week and £18.2m per year.
The Brazilian could well leave Old Trafford in the summer, too, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe saying in a recent interview that he, along with some other recent signings, were “inherited” by the club. Reading between the lines, you can certainly gather Casemiro might not have a future at United.
Well, if a report from TEAMtalk at the end of February is to be believed, ‘no club has shown any concrete interest’ in signing the experienced midfielder, due to his unwillingness to reduce his wage demands.
In recent weeks, the veteran has seen a real upturn in form. According to Statman Dave on social media, Casemiro has outranked his Premier League peers this season. Per game, he has attempted the most tackles by midfielders in the league with 4.97, and won the most tackles of any top-flight midfielder, with 2.89.
If Casemiro does stay beyond this season, it is unclear how much involvement he will have. United have plenty of talented young midfielders breaking through, with one in particular who Ruben Amorim could trust in the side.
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The Man Utd youngster who could replace Casemiro
Casemiro’s knowledge and experience can certainly help other young midfielders in United’s squad. The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer must already have learnt so much from him, and Sekou Kone could also benefit.
The young Malian midfielder is someone who United fans can get excited about in the long term. Despite being just 19 years of age, he has already been involved in first-team squads for United, and could “become a beast” for the club, according to football scout Antonio Mango.
So far, Mali U17 international Kone has only played six times for the Red Devils academy sides. He has struggled with injury at times this season, and that, coupled with first-team involvement, has meant he hasn’t played as much.
However, one competition in which Kone made a real impression was the U17 World Cup back in 2023. It was a fantastic competition for Mali, who came third, beating Argentina in the third-place playoff.
The United youngster was a standout player in the competition, and his stats via Soascore from the tournament show just how well he played. For example, the midfielder averaged 1.6 key passes per game, made an exceptional 4.7 tackles and completed 1.7 interceptions.
Key passes
1.6
Dribbles completed
2.5
Passes completed
50
Long balls completed
5
Tackles
4.7
Interceptions
1.7
Aerial duels won
2.5
Kone’s talent in the middle of the park is clear to see. Not only is he impressive off the ball, but he can also offer creativity in the final third. He is well on his way to becoming a well-rounded midfielder, and with a bit more experience, could become a part of United’s team in the future.
Whatever Casemiro’s future holds, United will surely be hoping he can help Kone’s development. There are few players in world football better to learn off as a midfielder, and it could certainly benefit the 19-year-old’s career in the long term.
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