{"id":587490,"date":"2026-05-16T15:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/587490\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T15:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:35:16","slug":"romas-manu-kone-is-the-best-casemiro-replacement-for-manchester-united-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/587490\/","title":{"rendered":"Roma’s Manu Kone is the best Casemiro replacement for Manchester United – here’s why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Casemiro\u2019s departure has re-ignited one of the most powerful transfer narratives in football – ‘Manchester United<\/a> need a new central midfielder’.<\/p>\n

The list is endless, as is the speculation.<\/p>\n

And throw in the fact United could also be in the market<\/a> for an upgrade on Manuel Ugarte – and the picture can become confused.<\/p>\n

So, as Casemiro prepares for an emotional goodbye<\/a> at Old Trafford<\/a> on Sunday against Nottingham Forest, the MEN and Machine Football’s<\/a> data analysis cuts through all the rumours to identify the most suitable candidates to replace the Brazilian.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Where next for Marcus Rashford? Analysing his best fit – and it’s not Barcelona, Man Utd or PSG<\/a>READ MORE: Manchester United Notebook: Carrick update, Casemiro plan and Fernandes thoughts on transfer target revealed<\/a>Manu Kon\u00e9, AS Roma: The best match (\u00a358m)<\/p>\n

The Machine Football model\u2019s preferred option is Manu Kon\u00e9, from Serie A side Roma.<\/p>\n

At 24, the French midfielder ranks in the top 10% of European midfielders for ball recoveries and the top 15% for progressive passing \u2014 a combination rarer than it sounds.<\/p>\n

Most players who win the ball do not immediately hurt the opposition with it. Kon\u00e9 does.<\/p>\n

He moves quickly from defensive actions into forward progression, a trait that suits possession-oriented systems and one that would align naturally with the style United appear keen to move towards under Michael Carrick.<\/a><\/p>\n

The model classifies Kon\u00e9 as a Hybrid 8 \u2013 a reliable all-round midfielder capable of balancing defensive work with ball progression in transitional systems and, more importantly, the same core profile the model assigned to Casemiro at his peak.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Machine Football)<\/p>\n

Kon\u00e9 will not reproduce Casemiro\u2019s peak creative output, but the model suggests his hybrid profile – capable of both defending and helping construct attacks – is the closest overall match currently available on the market.<\/p>\n

The bigger issue is cost. The model values Kon\u00e9 at \u20ac66.7million (\u00a358m), meaning United would need to decide whether his long-term upside justifies paying close to a premium fee.<\/p>\n

Amadou Onana, Aston Villa: The physical replacement (\u00a348.5m)<\/p>\n

If United want to preserve the physical and aerial side of Casemiro\u2019s game, the model points strongly towards Amadou Onana.<\/p>\n

Under Unai Emery, Onana has developed into one of the Premier League<\/a>\u2019s most imposing midfielders.<\/p>\n

His tackling and aerial numbers both rank highly (within the top 20% of defensive midfielders in the Premier League), giving him many of the physical traits that made Casemiro so dominant at his peak.<\/p>\n

The question is what happens in possession.<\/p>\n

The model suggests Onana functions best alongside a technically secure midfielder capable of handling progression and distribution responsibilities. At United, Kobbie Mainoo appears the obvious partner.<\/p>\n

On paper, the pairing makes sense.<\/p>\n

Mainoo is an elite ball-carrier and highly secure passer under pressure, while Onana would provide the physicality, and aerial presence United risk losing with Casemiro gone.<\/p>\n

But the chemistry projection between them is surprisingly low.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Machine Football)<\/p>\n

The model flags concerns over how the partnership functions structurally rather than individually, suggesting the combination may not complement each other as naturally as expected.<\/p>\n

Onana solves the physical problem. Whether he solves the midfield balance is less certain.<\/p>\n

Jo\u00e3o Gomes, Wolves: The safe option (\u00a346m)<\/p>\n

Jo\u00e3o Gomes is probably the most attainable player on this list – and is already being linked with clubs like Atletico Madrid. In a disastrous season for Wolves, he has remained one of their few bright sparks.<\/p>\n

His defensive numbers are particularly strong, especially for tackling and ball recoveries, where he ranks among the top 20% of Premier League midfielders in both metrics.<\/p>\n

United would not be losing anything defensively with him, and his profile as a midfielder who covers ground and plays with intensity fits the archetype of a player capable of shielding a back four competently.<\/p>\n

The concern is whether that profile scales effectively into a Champions League-level side.<\/p>\n

At Wolves, Gomes operates in a team that spends long periods defending deep and playing without sustained possession.<\/p>\n

United would ask something very different from their holding midfielder \u2013 progressing play under pressure, controlling tempo, and contributing consistently against deep defensive blocks.<\/p>\n

His creative metrics fall noticeably below the other options on this list, ranking within the bottom 30% for Premier League midfielders, and there are legitimate doubts over how much value he adds once his team becomes the dominant side in possession.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Machine Football)<\/p>\n

Gomes\u2019 predictive cohesion score reflects that concern, with the 25-year-old failing to form any elite-level connections with potential teammates in Carrick’s projected system \u2013 a result of his disappointing creativity figures.<\/p>\n

He is a sensible option, but whether he is the right one to replace Casemiro is another question entirely.<\/p>\n

If United were to sign him, it would make more sense to interpret it as competition for a player more like Kobbie Mainoo \u2013 a signing that adds depth and defensive security without necessarily raising the technical ceiling of the side.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Michael Carrick tells Manchester United fans what they want to hear about Casemiro<\/a>\u00c9derson, Atalanta: The potential alternative (\u00a330M)<\/p>\n

Interestingly, one of the club\u2019s alternatives to Gomes may actually project as a more natural replacement for Casemiro altogether \u2013 Atalanta and Brazil midfielder \u00c9derson.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 26-year-old shares the same Hybrid 8 profile as United\u2019s departing midfield veteran \u2013 the same classification also assigned to Manu Kon\u00e9, albeit with \u00c9derson coming at a significantly lower projected cost of \u20ac34.6m (\u00a330m).<\/p>\n

What makes \u00c9derson particularly intriguing is the balance within his profile.<\/p>\n

He ranks in the top 5% of defensive midfielders for creativity while also placing within the top 10% for tackling, closely mirroring the all-round nature that defined Casemiro at his peak.<\/p>\n

\u00c9derson combines defensive intensity with the ability to progress attacks quickly after regaining possession, making him capable of contributing across multiple phases of play rather than functioning as a purely destructive midfielder.<\/p>\n

In that sense, if Gomes were to move elsewhere, \u00c9derson may actually represent the more like-for-like successor to Casemiro as part of the midfield rebuild.<\/p>\n

Petar Su\u010dic, Inter Milan: The ‘wildcard’ technical option (\u00a341.5m)<\/p>\n

Petar Su\u010di\u0107 is the wildcard name on this list, but arguably the most technically gifted.<\/p>\n

The Croatian excels at progressing play from deep, controlling possession, and playing through pressure in ways more defensively-oriented midfielders often cannot.<\/p>\n

Technically, the fit is obvious. The question is whether he possesses the physical tools required to excel in United\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n

Su\u010di\u0107 does not offer the aerial dominance or physical control that defined so much of Casemiro\u2019s game. Machine Football\u2019s league-weighting system – which measures projected performance drop-offs between Europe\u2019s top leagues and England – suggests those weaknesses could become even more exposed in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Machine Football)<\/p>\n

To a lesser extent, the same concern exists with Kon\u00e9, although his stronger defensive athleticism and ball-winning profile make the projection significantly safer overall.<\/p>\n

United would likely need to compensate for Su\u010di\u0107\u2019s weaknesses structurally, particularly defensively and at set pieces.<\/p>\n

Despite that, in the right structure, Su\u010di\u0107 could become an outstanding possession midfielder.<\/p>\n

The uncertainty is whether the current United squad is stable enough to support that profile consistently across a full Premier League and Champions League<\/a> campaign.<\/p>\n

Aur\u00e9lienTchouam\u00e9ni: Elite but too defensive? (\u00a363m)<\/p>\n

If there is one player who genuinely resembles the complete version of Casemiro, it is Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni.<\/p>\n

The model rates him among the best midfielders in the world across multiple roles \u2014 defensively dominant, strong in possession, and highly creative.<\/p>\n

His tackling, ball recoveries, passing, and creativity all rank at elite levels globally.<\/p>\n

However, despite those outstanding individual attributes, the model does raise some concerns around how naturally he would integrate into Carrick\u2019s projected setup at United.<\/p>\n

When analysing his predicted cohesion within the system, there is a noticeable imbalance between his relationships with the defensive line and the forward line.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Machine Football)<\/p>\n

The model projects much stronger connections deeper in the structure, despite Tchouam\u00e9ni possessing the creative profile to influence attacks more heavily.<\/p>\n

One possible explanation is his positional usage at the Bernab\u00e9u this campaign.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman has frequently been deployed at centre-back this season rather than consistently in midfield, which may have subtly altered the way he progresses play and interacts with attacking phases.<\/p>\n

A return to a permanent midfield role could eventually restore those tendencies, but if United were to pursue him, the model suggests there may still be an adaptation period.<\/p>\n

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