Manchester United signed Casemiro in the summer to finally solve their problems in defensive midfield. They paid Real Madrid £70m to sign the Brazillian on a five-year-contract and some fans were worried that may be too much for a player who is already 30 years old.
While his age is a relevant concern, his performances have already endeared him to the Old Trafford faithful and his reputation has only grown exponentially after his late equaliser against Chelsea. Casemiro's passionate celebrations were caught on camera and shared all over social media by fans who were happy at how much this obviously meant to the player.
However, the midfield situation is still not completely solved for United. Casemiro is 30 so there are still question marks over how much his age will affect him over his time at the club and even if he does stay at an elite level, the position needs to be reinforced so the team can cover for him when he's injured and needs to be rested.
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So who should United target? Well, some reports have linked the club with a move for Leeds United midfielder and United States international Tyler Adams.
Adams was linked with United heavily during the tenure of Ralf Rangnick, as at the time he was playing for RB Leipzig and was signed by the German while he was in charge of the teams' transfer strategy. He has since made a move to the Premier League and continued to impress for Jesse Marsch's side even if the team as a whole is struggling to win.
Adams gives the Leeds midfield a lot of energy and defensive stability as he applies pressure to the opposition. He also seems incredibly comfortable on the ball when Leeds are in possession as well, able to pick the ball up off his teammates and carry it forward.
United currently have Scott McTominay as Casemiro's deputy and while he has improved under Ten Hag, he still has his limitations. In the long term, you could see the club choosing to upgrade him.
Given the American has just moved, it seems unlikely that United would be able to prise him away from Leeds, especially given the historic rivalry between the two clubs. But if Marsch, who brought his fellow American to England, is sacked or in the worst-case scenario, Leeds are relegated, this could present an opportunity for the club to secure a cut-price deal.
Adams would be a fine deputy to Casemiro, allowing United to manage the Brazillian's career on their terms as he heads towards his twilight years. And given the American is 23 years old, he could either become the long-term option in midfield in the future or be replaced further down the line.
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