Manchester United have been touted as a potential destination for Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado due to their good relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes.
The Red Devils have already secured an agreement to land Atalanta’s Ederson to reinforce their midfield, and talks are ongoing with West Ham United for Mateus Fernandes.
Casemiro will leave on a free transfer when his contract expires on June 30, and reports claim that Manuel Ugarte could likewise be shown the exit door this summer.
If Ugarte were to depart, United could pursue another cost-effective signing after Fernandes. Mundo Deportivo claim that Casado could emerge as an option.
Casado had limited playing time under Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and hardly played during the busy end of the season. He could move on for more minutes.
He is seduced by the possibility of joining Atletico Madrid, but manager Diego Simeone has yet to give the green light for a possible approach for a transfer.
A Premier League move could be on the cards too. It is claimed that United could be a destination for Casado due to their good relationship with his agent Mendes.
United should consider a move for Casado
The 22-year-old started only 10 of his 24 La Liga appearances last season. He was still effective in the centre of the park, completing 91 percent of his passes.
Casado’s close ball control and distribution are his main strengths, and he would be a quality signing to add more depth and competition in United’s midfield.
United are actively looking to offload Ugarte after a difficult 24 months, and it has been reported that they could part ways with him for a cut-price fee of £24m.
If Ugarte were to be sold, United should seek to pursue a deal for Casado, who could be prised away for a similar sum (£24m), given his lack of regular minutes at Barcelona.
The Catalan giants have just made a huge £70m outlay on Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon and may want to recoup some of the funds spent with player sales.
Meanwhile, there is the possibility of a swap deal. Marcus Rashford is determined to join Barcelona permanently, and an exchange with Casado could be proposed.
United previously re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo, who was managed by Mendes. The super-agent was also key to the transfers of Ugarte and Leny Yoro in the summer of 2024.
The Red Devils should have a genuine edge over other Premier League clubs in terms of negotiating a move for Casado with Mendes during the summer transfer window.
Stats from Sofascore.com