Casemiro is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, so which midfielder should Man Utd sign to replace him?
05:00, 05 Feb 2026
Casemiro is set to leave in the summer.(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United will invest in their midfield in the summer transfer window. Casemiro will leave at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on four years in Manchester.
United agreed to Casemiro’s request to confirm his summer departure, and a video with the Brazilian explaining his decision was released on club channels. United sources said the decision not to renew Casemiro’s contract had been made well in advance of the announcement.
Michael Carrick recently said his opinion would be canvassed on potential replacements for Casemiro, and the conversation about who should succeed the 33-year-old is ongoing among supporters.
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Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are admired at Old Trafford. None of those options would be available cheaply, and there are question marks about whether they are ready to sign for United. Our writers have debated who United should sign to replace Casemiro…
Tyrone Marshall
The challenge for whoever comes in to replace Casemiro will be dealing with the pressure of doing just that. A five-time Champions League winner, 82 caps (and counting) for Brazil and nine years at Real Madrid, he was comfortable in the Old Trafford pressure cooker from day one.
I like Elliot Anderson as the most stylistically similar fit to Casemiro. He is proving his worth as a holding midfielder for England, but also has a brilliant passing range. Casemiro could do both of those jobs, shielding his back four but also progressing the ball and helping to penetrate a low block.
Anderson has nowhere near the experience of Casemiro, but he is the type of character who doesn’t seem to get fazed. The way he has settled into the England squad and won over Thomas Tuchel is a positive sign.
Adam Wharton is a fascinating player, but also a bit of a maverick in that position. I would be fascinated to see him at an elite-level club. But I think Anderson is more likely to be successful and brings a better all-round package at the moment.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Steven Railston
If United are prepared to splash close to £100m on the likes of Anderson, Baleba and Wharton, they should test the waters by enquiring about Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
The worst Madrid can do is say no. I would prefer Anderson to Baleba and Wharton, but I’ve got my doubts about whether the Nottingham Forest talent is cut out for such a big move at this stage of his career.
The expectation to perform to a high level each week at United is completely different to playing for Nottingham Forest. Anderson has excelled for England, but in games against the likes of Wales and Latvia.
Camavinga may be an ambitious target, though. There were murmurs of interest in Morten Hjulmand last summer, and perhaps he could be an option. The 26-year-old is a Denmark international and scored an equaliser against England at Euro 2024, finishing brilliantly from 30 yards to secure a point for his country in the group stage.
Atletico Madrid have been linked with a move for the Sporting Lisbon captain at the end of the season. United did alright the last time they raided Sporting for a midfielder.
Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand.(Image: Getty Images)
Jeremy Cross
United need to look to the future when strengthening their midfield this summer. Casemiro has been an expensive sticking plaster.
United have to invest in someone who has his best years ahead of him, and will still have sell-on value when the time comes for him to move elsewhere. Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton both fit the bill.
And United should pick Anderson ahead of Wharton. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is more versatile than Wharton, and has now established himself at the highest level with England.
He will go to the World Cup this summer, where it is hoped he will improve his game even more. He doesn’t look like someone who would be fazed by the pressure and expectation that comes with playing for United.