There will likely be a lot of change at Manchester United in the coming months, with news of Casemiro's exit already confirmed
Casemiro
Casemiro has been a fantastic servant for the club but is now moving on(Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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The transfer window is in full swing, with news already breaking that Casemiro will be leaving Manchester United at the end of the season. The rumour mill continues to spin, and a number of names have been thrown into the mix as potential replacements.
On the field, Michael Carrick got his United reign off to a superb start with a victory over Manchester City in the derby. Ruben Amorim was let go after only 14 months at the helm, with the players failing to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 system.
Casemiro replacement gets green light
As previously mentioned, Casemiro is leaving United at the end of the season, and the midfielder's exit leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the park.
Luckily for United, there are plenty of options. Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson have long been linked with the club but after a report by I Paper in the last few days, it appears the latter would prefer a move to City.
That leaves Wharton and Baleba as potential options - both top-class operators with long-term futures in the game. Former United man Mikael Silvestre identified these two players to Esport Insider.
"Man United should sign a centre midfielder in January. If the club are playing in Europe next season, they'll need more depth in the middle of the park," he said.
"There are plenty of options available on the market too, and I believe Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace and Carlos Baleba at Brighton would both be great additions to the squad."
Adam Wharton
Adam Wharton is an incredibly sought-after player(Image: Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
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Silvestre added: "United are too light in that position at the moment. Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are good options to occupy a place in the centre midfield, but if one gets injured, you've got no backup options. They need a strong fourth man to cover that position, especially if they're playing in multiple competitions next year."
Kai Rooney's ban ignored
Wayne Rooney broke an important family rule by attending a match to watch his son Kai in action. The 16-year-old is aiming to emulate some of his father's success in, and recently turned out for United's under-18s team. Kai made his Old Trafford debut in the FA Youth Cup fourth round against Derby, with Wayne and Coleen spotted watching their eldest son.
Dad Rooney had previously been 'banned' from attending matches due to the attention his presence draws. Understandably, Rooney would be swarmed by fans looking for autographs and selfies from the United legend.
Coleen said in 2024: "That's the thing with kids I think, it's hard to go on days out. Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn't even watch the game.
"How do you say to all of these kids, 'Go away, I'm watching my son?' Adults, it's different, you could speak to them. So he (Kai) just said, 'Oh, dad there's no point you coming because you don't even watch me play anyway.' Which is sad, but it can't be helped anyway."