Outgoing Manchester United star Casemiro has reportedly identified who the club should bring in to replace him this summer
Casemiro is expected to leave United in the summer(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United are set to take on Newcastle United this Wednesday, with Michael Carrick aiming to solidify their position in third place in the Premier League. The Red Devils managed a comeback victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday, winning 2-1.
A penalty scored by Bruno Fernandes and another goal from Benjamin Sesko secured the points, putting United firmly in the race for Champions League qualification.
The match saw yet another goal from Sesko, who has been performing impressively since Carrick took the reins. In today’s United news, a former Premier League star believes that the Old Trafford side have a player who shows similarities to Cristiano Ronaldo.
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In other news, United’s Casemiro has reportedly identified the player who could replace him when he departs at the end of the season.
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Casemiro ‘suggests’ replacement
Departing United midfielder Casemiro has reportedly recommended Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes as his successor. United confirmed in January that the midfielder will leave when his contract expires on June 30.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Adam Wharton from Palace, and Wolves’ Joao Gomes are all reportedly on United’s shortlist for a new midfielder.
However, reports suggest that Casemiro himself has endorsed his compatriot, according to Spanish publication AS. Any bid to bring Newcastle’s star player to United will prove challenging.
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United is tackled by Casemiro of Manchester United (Image: 2022 Getty Images)
The Magpies are reportedly in talks over a new contract with Guimaraes. The same is said to apply to Tonali, whose future in the North East remains unclear.
AS reports that United have already made ‘informal contact’ with both players. However, no transfer terms have been finalised.
Should United pursue Casemiro’s reported recommendation, any deal could easily surpass the £125 million Newcastle received from Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer.
Casemiro’s contract includes a clause for a one-year extension, but the club have chosen not to keep him for a fifth season. With less than six months remaining on his current deal, the Brazil international is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England.
The ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’
Former Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart has suggested that United striker Sesko shares characteristics with United and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Slovenian forward experienced a difficult start to the season after his big-money move from RB Leipzig. Sesko managed just two Premier League goals in the campaign’s opening half but has transformed his performances under Carrick.
Benjamin Sesko has hit form for United(Image: Getty Images)
He has netted six times in his last seven league matches. His goals have come against Everton, West Ham and Fulham, plus against Brighton in the FA Cup, demonstrating his potential to United supporters.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Hart said: “Young striker, and he’s got such brilliance, you know, a little bit of Cristiano Ronaldo about him. And [Bruno] Fernandes knows how to get the best out of him. He knows how to get into the goal-scoring positions.”
Gary Neville also noted that Sesko has ‘improved enormously’ as he continues his scoring streak. Speaking on Sky Sports, the United legend said: “Sesko, the confidence, the goals. The finishes by the way that he’s put in, the West Ham [one], the Everton [one]. The goals, they’re four brilliant goals by the way.
Sesko has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo (Image: Matthew Ashton – AMA, Getty Images)
“They’re all different. They’re all very different goals. One across the near post, one a header, one is a counter-attack with a side finish at the end. And then the Fulham one is the one on the turn.
“What he [Carrick] seems to have done in the four or five weeks whilst having him [Sesko] as a sub is bring him on and then he [Sesko] had an angry celebration against Everton.
“That was a celebration of a guy who was saying, ‘You better play me by the way, now’ and he has done. So I think now he’s working Sesko into form. That’s a game changer for United.”
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