Last week, it was announced that Casemiro's Manchester United career would come to an end at the climax of the ongoing season.
The Brazilian will be out of contract and is set to depart the club on a free transfer after spending four seasons in Manchester.
It will certainly leave a hole in the midfield for the Red Devils. Casemiro has been an essential part of several teams during his time at the club and has bounced back admirably after a dip in form halfway through his spell at the club. However, it does guarantee United will need a new midfielder.
Casemiro-Ugarte-Man-Utd
Unsurprisingly, the rumours have already begun to pick up, with United linked to a former Premier League star.
Man United eye up new midfielder
It would appear that United's leading targets in the form of Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson will not be on the move this January, so alternative plans have been drawn up. Whether Jason Wilcox and Co pull the trigger, however, very much remains to be seen.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton reacts after the match
One alternative to those big-money players is Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha, who is said to be a target for the club. However, there is perhaps a willingness from the higher-ups at Old Trafford to bring someone in with more experience.
That could be why TEAMtalk are now reporting that the club have ‘made a move to sign’ Besiktas and former Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi.
wilfred-ndidi-leicester-city
The Nigeria international was recommended by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and they have seemingly taken him up on that advice.
United ‘have since made initial enquiries’ about signing Ndidi this winter, although ‘no formal offer has been lodged at this stage.’ It remains to be seen if United continue to pursue this.
Why Ndidi would be a good Casemiro replacement
Replacing a serial winner with the experience of Casemiro is certainly not going to be an easy task for United. They need someone with bags of experience themselves, and similar skills on the pitch, too. That could be where Ndidi becomes an option.
Wilfred-Ndidi-Leicester
He has been a vital player for Turkish top-flight club Besiktas this term. He’s played 16 times across all competitions, missing a spell of games due to AFCON commitments. In that time, the midfielder has skippered the club twice, showing the sort of leadership he offers.
Of course, he has a lot of Premier League football under his belt, making this a plug-and-play signing with no adaptation to the league required.
Ndidi played 303 times for Leicester at the base of the Foxes’ midfield, chipping in with 40 goal involvements and helping to lift the FA Cup and Community Shield in that time.
If United do turn to the Nigerian as a Casemiro replacement, he will have a huge task on his hands. The Brazilian legend has been imperative for United more often than not, notching up 147 appearances so far.
He’s been a threat in the final third, having chalked up 21 goals and 13 assists, including a strike in the 2023 Carabao Cup final win. Off the ball, he is a monster and wins 6.07 duels on average per game this season.
Well, United won’t have to worry about a potential out-of-possession drop off. Ndidi’s only season in the Premier League, where he played all 38 games, came in 2018/19, and he was sensational that term. For example, he averaged 8.84 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 3% of midfielders in the division.
Ndidi key defensive stats in 2018/19 PL season
Stat (per 90)
Tackles
Duels won
Aerial duels won
Interceptions
Ball recoveries
Stats from Fotmob
It is never going to be easy to find someone to fill the shoes of Casemiro. Yet, in the ex-Leicester man, they might have someone who can somewhat do it. He is an “all-action midfielder” as Statman Dave once said, but, crucially, has the ability to maintain the high level of ball-winning.
If United decide to pursue this deal, then signing a player ready-made for the Premier League, with hundreds of games in the competition, could be smart piece of business. Ndidi could go a long way to replacing the United number 18.
Bryan Mbeumo for Manchester United Related
[The next Mbeumo: INEOS exploring Man Utd move for "incredible" forward](https://www.footballfancast.com/their-next-mbeumo-ineos-exploring-man-utd-move-for-etta-eyong/ "The next Mbeumo: INEOS exploring Man Utd move for "incredible" forward")
Manchester United have identified a new star who could lead the line alongside Bryan Mbeumo at Old Trafford