Manchester United have made contact with Spanish giants Real Madrid about the prospect of signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
The Manchester Evening News understands that Casemiro, who is under contract at Madrid until the summer of 2025, is considered a more attainable target than Barcelona ace Frenkie de Jong. It is currently unclear if the 30-year-old would be open to moving to Old Trafford or whether his representative is using United in a bid to increase Casemiro's salary.
United are desperate to add to their midfielder options ahead of the transfer window closing and have seen their hopes of bringing Juventus star Adrien Rabiot to the club collapse. United had agreed an initial fee of £15million with the Italian club but the move has broken down due to the Frenchman's wage demands.
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De Jong remains an active target for United, although there is a growing feeling that a deal will not come to fruition, with the saga now approaching the 100-day mark. Casemiro, however, would be a suitable alternative to the Dutchman if United can make it happen, as he would offer the bite and aggression that they are sorely lacking in midfield.
Considered as a defensive-minded midfielder, Casemiro would be a huge upgrade on the Reds' current options. But how could United line up if they are fortunate enough to sign the former Porto loanee? Below, MEN Sport has taken a look at three possible options.
4-3-3
United have started the season by operating with a 4-3-3 system, with Bruno Fernandes at the tip of the midfield, being accompanied by Fred and either Scott McTominay or Christian Eriksen. After starting as a striker against Brighton, Eriksen was deployed as United's deepest-lying midfielder against Brentford - and it backfired miserably.
It highlighted United's desperate need to bring in a defensive midfield player. Fred continues to attract criticism, but if United fail to bring in two midfielders before the window closes, you would expect him to continue alongside Casemiro in midfield, should the latter seal a move to M16.
Casemiro would be United's holding midfielder, offering a much-needed layer of protection to the defensive rearguard. Fred would play alongside him, but take more risks venturing forward. Fernandes would continue as the most advanced midfielder in the No.10 role.
4-2-3-1
Casemiro could also comfortably operate in a 4-2-3-1 system, occupying one of the two defensive-midfield berths. Like in the aforementioned 4-3-3 system, Fred would be the most likely operator to join him in the other No.6 position.
However, considering Fred has struggled to impose himself as a defensive midfielder, Casemiro may need an alternative partner. But Fred, for now, would keep his place.
That would leave Eriksen and Fernandes squabbling for the advanced-midfield berth, operating as the No.10 behind the lone striker. The wingers would not be deployed as high as they would be in a 4-3-3 system.
4-1-4-1
Although the thought of United being brave enough to deploy a 4-1-4-1 system at the moment, certainly on current form, is not a pretty one, it is a system, over time, that Casemiro could feature in if Erik ten Hag was prepared to use it. He is a seasoned defensive midfielder and has all of the necessary attributes to be a lone sitter in front of the back-four.
It would put a lot of pressure on his shoulders to keep the midfield and rearguard behind him in shape, but a player of his quality and experience should be able to deal with the responsibility. That approach would leave United with two more midfield positions to fill, both of which would be attack-minded.
That means it is a system that Ten Hag could use to incorporate both Fernandes and Eriksen in his plans, with the latter playing in a more familiar, advanced role. It is an experiment that could be worth trialling once Ten Hag has got more pieces in place.
