Ruthless Man Utd to go big for Tottenham target who’ll dump Eriksen as perfect Casemiro partner
Erik ten Hag is eyeing a more ‘ideal’ partner for Casemiro in his engine room, and the player he’s turning to is a Tottenham target who’s considering a move this summer, per a report.
When all options are available to Ten Hag, his preferred midfield pairing this term has been Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.
However, Casemiro has begun to fade as the season has worn on. Eriksen has recently returned from an ankle injury, though does not have the legs or athleticism to compensate when Casemiro isn’t at the peak of his powers.
Perhaps with that in mind, a report out of Spain claims Ten Hag is seeking a new partner for Casemiro whose game more closely resembles the Brazilian’s as opposed to Eriksen’s.
Via Goal, it’s claimed Man Utd have ‘expressed an interest’ in PSG stalwart, Marco Verratti.
The 30-year-old Italy international has been in Paris since 2012, though the current unrest at the club is reportedly making him consider whether now is the right time to get out.
The futures of Neymar and Lionel Messi both look like they’ll lay away from PSG. Elsewhere, unrest among the fanbase – most notably fans protesting and chanting outside of Neymar’s house – is concerning Verratti.
Verratti also harbours doubts over the longer-term project in Paris and all those factors are combining to leave the Italian ‘considering leaving PSG’.
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Man Utd are one of three clubs named by the report who are willing to move for the combative midfielder. The others are Juventus and Tottenham.
However, the strongest case is made for the Red Devils, with the report adding Ten Hag sees Verratti as an ‘ideal’ partner for Casemiro in the double pivot.
Verratti’s all-action style is claimed to ‘fit perfectly’ with what Ten Hag seeks in his midfield and as a result, United are reportedly ‘willing to make a significant outlay to hire him’.
No transfer valuations are cited in the piece, though now aged 30, a Verratti deal isn’t likely to be a bank breaker.
United’s current midfield options include Eriksen, Casemiro, Fred, Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny Van de Beek.
Van de Beek is among those believed to be on the chopping block this summer, while McTominay is courting strong interest from Newcastle.
Sabitzer’s loan from Bayern will expire at season’s end, though a permanent deal that would have to be negotiated from scratch has been speculated.
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