Casemiro has had a tough time at Manchester United this season. Photo: Reuters/Carl Recine
Saudi Professional League clubs are keen to sign Manchester United midfielder Casemiro when the transfer window opens next month.
There is also huge interest in the Brazilian's United teammate and the captain — Bruno Fernandes. Although this deal is considered much less likely, it is being discussed within the Pro League.
According to sources, up to 10 major contracts are expected to be signed this summer — with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nasr club. The team includes Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane, who are most closely associated with Casemiro.
It is known that representatives The Brazilian has already held negotiations with the clubs of the Professional League. United are willing to sell and would like any deal to be done early in the window but will not force Casemiro out.
Ambitious moves are also being discussed for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Manchester City's Ederson. It is already known that there is interest in Mohamed Salah, who was the subject of a failed £150 million bid from Al Ittihad last year, and Kevin De Bruyne.
As with last summer, it appears that Pro the league will try to raid the Premier League — and clubs there want to do deals knowing they can get better prices than elsewhere — with United already having links with clubs within the league, most notably » Ittihad.» , based in Jeddah.
Alisson (left) and Ederson are also considered transfer targets. Photo: Bradley Ormesher
John Murtaugh, then United's director of football, flew to Saudi Arabia twice to negotiate potential deals and mend relationships. Although Murtaugh has since left the club, he traveled with Matt Hargreaves, United's head of player negotiations.
This was done deliberately as Murtaugh knew that it was possible that he would leave so that Hargreaves could ensure continuity of contact. . He will be integrated into United's new leadership structure under technical director Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth when he eventually becomes sporting director.
The Professional League is expected to see much less transfer activity in the near future after spending a staggering £767 million last year — second only to the Premier League — signing 94 foreign players.
However, the Pro League, which aims to become one of the biggest leagues in world football, is also aware that transfer windows present opportunities for it to raise its profile.
Pro League clubs have fulfilled their foreign quotas of eight players, but there is room for movement: some transfers are being postponed and more “targeted” deals are expected. The quotas have been increased to 10, although two of them must be players under 21.
Casemiro has endured a difficult season at United and has struggled even more after being asked to play as a makeshift central midfielder during the club's current injury crisis. After Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, Casemiro accused former United captain Wayne Rooney, who worked as a pundit for Sky Sports, of being «lazy» and «naive.»
Brazil have just dropped Casemiro from their squad for the upcoming Copa America.
The 32-year-old has two goals. There are several years remaining on a four-year contract (with United having an option for a further 12 months) in the deal he agreed to when he was signed for £70 million from Real Madrid in 2022. It remains to be seen what fee United will demand. for Casemiro.
Telegraph Sport reported last month that United are willing to listen to offers for the majority of their first-team squad this summer. While the likes of Kobby Mainu, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho are considered strictly banned, it is believed the club are reluctant to limit their options elsewhere in the squad.
That means United are likely to he will do so. skip European football altogether, perhaps they are ready to negotiate for most of their other players.
The club will have to effectively implement a sell-to-buy policy with its finances so tight after spending £555 million over the previous three summers and restrictions imposed by Premier League financial rules.
Will Fernandes be one of the the players who will leave are still unknown. The United captain has two years left on his contract, with the option of a further year, and the 29-year-old would be in demand if he becomes available.
But that seems unlikely. United's new owner, Ineos, quickly concluded that the Portuguese remained an important part of the team as a player but also as a leader. His importance was underlined by the way United struggled without him.
That said, if United made an extraordinary offer for Fernandes and he was interested in them leaving, he would have to be considered. Fernandes had previously received interest from Al-Hilal, who had just won the Professional League, and this time Ittihad would be interested if they were given any support.
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