Casemiro’s decision to leave Manchester United at the conclusion of his contract this season is set to amplify the club’s efforts in the pursuit of a new midfielder. The Brazilian’s exit will also relieve the club of his £350,000 weekly wage, a development that could be welcomed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as United prepares for their upcoming fixture against Arsenal, following their derby win last week.
In an intriguing twist, rumors are circulating that Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, originally from Wythenshawe, is feeling homesick and contemplating a move back to Manchester this summer. Interestingly, if Palmer returns to the city, it would be to Manchester United rather than Manchester City, as he has long been a supporter of the red side of Manchester. Meanwhile, United scouts were reportedly in Spain over the weekend to discuss the future of on-loan Marcus Rashford and to scout Real Sociedad’s versatile midfielder and forward, Mikel Oyarzabal. Notably, both Palmer, who scored the equalizer, and Oyarzabal, who netted the winner, were key players in the Euro 2024 final.
Casemiro’s impending departure puts added pressure on Kobbie Mainoo’s contract situation. The young talent, still only 20, made his first Premier League start of the season against Manchester City last weekend under Michael Carrick’s management, having previously been sidelined. Mainoo, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, attracted interest from clubs like Napoli while he was largely on the bench. Currently earning between £20,000 to £30,000 per week, he may seek a salary increase, which could complicate negotiations.
In other significant transfer news, high-profile players Vinícius Júnior and Mo Salah are attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with serious talks surrounding a potential billion-euro move for Vinícius Júnior to Al-Ahli. Salah’s future has been under scrutiny, with Liverpool looking likely to cash in on the forward before his contract runs out in 2027.
Liverpool’s defensive needs could lead them to pursue Micky van de Ven, especially with their center-back options thin following the departure of Marc Guéhi. With Ibrahima Konaté potentially eyeing a summer exit and Virgil van Dijk facing contract expiration in 18 months, Tottenham’s £100 million price tag for Van de Ven could be a substantial investment for Liverpool. There are even discussions of including Curtis Jones in a trade deal, as Liverpool aims to bolster their squad with Dutch players, potentially increasing the total to five in the starting lineup.
Lastly, after a recent defeat to Braga and facing challenges due to injury, Sean Dyche and Nottingham Forest are in urgent need of a solution up front. They are keenly interested in Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca, who is expected to undergo a medical for a loan move from Napoli, despite a lackluster scoring record in Italy.
With the transfer window closing in just ten days, clubs remain ramped up in their pursuit of new talent. Chelsea is considering a loan move for Douglas Luiz, while Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta appears eager to leave, with Aston Villa possibly waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, Palace may look to Leeds for Joël Piroe and could subsequently turn to Wolves to fill that gap with Jørgen Strand Larsen.
This transfer window is shaping up to be one of significant movement, which could redefine team strategies as clubs look to strengthen their squads heading into the business end of the season.