- Manchester United set to lose out on midfielder
- Ligue 1 side have moved ahead with move for Marc Casado
- At least one more midfielder expected at Old Trafford after Ederson agreement
Manchester United are amongst a host of Premier League clubs who are set to miss out on FC Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado.
The Reds are on the lookout for a defensive midfielder who can replace Casemiro. At least two midfielders are expected to arrive at Old Trafford this summer.
One name that Michael Carrick‘s side are set to miss out is the Barcelona midfielder, who is expected to complete a move to Ligue 1.
Marc Casado Set for Monaco Move
According to TEAMtalk, AS Monaco are “pushing to finalise” the transfer of Marc Casado from Barcelona. The Ligue 1 side have moved ahead of other interested parties, being the only club to submit a formal offer for the player.
Source at TEAMtalk understand that the deal is “worth in excess of £20million”. The 22-year-old made 24 La Liga appearances last season, making just 10 league starts. Hansi Flick’s side is well-equipped in the middle of the park. The likes of Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong and Marc Bernal are also competing for spots.
The expected addition of Bernardo Silva, who will leave Manchester City, is expected to add extra competition. This will pave the way for Casado to leave the club to secure more consistent game time in his formative years.
Other Targets Fit the Bill
Casado is an outside name that has been linked with the club. He is not part of the eleven-man shortlist reported earlier last month. Most of those names are Premier League-based, with the only one based elsewhere in Europe being Atalanta’s Ederson. The Brazilian is set to become United’s first signing of the Carrick era.
For the player, Monaco is a good destination where European football will be available. A seventh-place finish meant that the French side will play in the Europa Conference League. If the move goes through, the midfielder will be playing alongside former United player Paul Pogba.
There have been a host of other Premier League clubs interested in Casado, such as Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. For Carrick’s side, the mild interest does not equate to losing out on a top target. The pressure of replacing Casemiro can only be shouldered by a ‘complete’ player, and Casado, being a young midfielder, does not fit that mould despite impressive performative numbers.
