A midfielder or two. That is the order of the day as far as recruitment is concerned at Manchester United this summer.
Casemiro will be departing Old Trafford and with Manuel Ugarte likely to flee the scene too, it means INEOS and Co may need to source two replacements.
While Ugarte has offered very little during his time in Manchester, Casemiro will take some replacing.
Casemiro-Fernandes-Man-Utd
The Brazilian’s turnaround in English football has to be admired. Not long ago, a well-known pundit told him to leave the football before the football leaves you.
However, the midfielder has not won multiple Champions Leagues by accident. He’s demonstrated a remarkable level of mental fortitude to deliver what has been one of his finest individual campaigns.
So, where will United turn to in their bid to replace the former Real Madrid man?
Manchester United’s transfer shortlist
Man United’s midfield shortlist is about as long as your arm.
A whole host of names have been linked with making the switch, including Joao Gomes of Wolves and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
Yet, the two primary targets happen to be Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. Tonali is expected to cost as much as £100m but Anderson won’t come cheap either.
England's Elliot Anderson during the press conference
Reports earlier this week claimed it could take as much as £120m to prise him away from the City Ground, with United chiefs allegedly opening talks with the England international’s agents.
As it happens, he is not the only England international the Red Devils are interested in.
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According to a report from Sky Sports, United are one of a number of teams interested in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
It states that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea from within the Premier League are weighing up a move to bring the Villa superstar elsewhere.
Morgan-Rogers-stats-2024-25
Champions League winners PSG have also cast their eyes in the direction of the attacking midfielder and may well have the upper hand, considering he has been rated as a £100m player by previous reports.
Why Morgan Rogers could be Bruno Fernandes 2.0
Man United have endured a particularly inconsistent 2025/26 but if there has been one constant, it’s been Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese midfielder began the season as a deeper-lying midfielder under Ruben Amorim but has gone to another level in recent months after the interim appointment of Michael Carrick.
It’s not rocket science. Carrick has fielded Fernandes in his favoured position slightly further forward and it’s worked a treat.
The United skipper has 16 Premier League assists to his name and could be on course to break the division’s assist record of 20 for a single season, one that is held by Thierry Henry.
Also the scorer of eight goals, the 31-year-old is arguably in the form of his life. However, there is still the threat of the midfielder leaving, with Saudi having previously lodged an offer to tempt him away from English football.
bruno-fernandes-man-utd
Irrespective of whether the former Sporting man decides to leave Old Trafford, Rogers could be Man United’s next version of Fernandes.
A magical Premier League talent, there is a reason he has been valued at £100m and it’s because, like Fernandes, he’s a regular provider of goals and assists.
Once on the books of the Manchester City academy, the England international has been around the houses to get to Premier League stardom but now at Aston Villa, he’s lighting up the top flight.
Last season, the 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout year and was so impressive that he walked home with the PFA Young Player of the Year award. In 54 matches across all competitions, the attacking midfielder scored 14 times and provided 16 assists. It really was a Fernandes-esque season.
Rogers vs Fernandes: 2024/25 Premier League
Stat (per 90 mins)
Goals
Shots
Shot accuracy
Conversion rate
Assists
Chances created
Take-ons completed
Duels won
This term, Rogers has been at it again and while the numbers aren’t quite so impressive, he’s still providing regular goal contributions with ten goals and seven assists in 45 matches.
A dead certainty to be in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, like Anderson, this is a move that United should look at prioritising before the global event gets underway.
PFA Player of the Year 2025 winners - Rogers & Salah (timeless)
Should Rogers explode in America this summer, then that £100m price tag could get even greater.
However, he is a proven Premier League player, he’s English and crucially, he’s one of the most exciting players in English football right now.
At 31, Fernandes is not getting any younger and in the Aston Villa sensation, United could sign a ready-made replacement.
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