Man United identify £40m Premier League talent as Casemiro replacement

Manchester United are expecting a busy summer transfer window, with the midfield being one of the important positions that need strengthening.

The Reds are considering a potential move for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who might earn his debut for Brazil against England this weekend, according to The Mirror.

In light of Casemiro’s probable departure, United are in pursuit of a defensive midfielder this summer and have earmarked Gomes, valued at £40 million, as a prospective replacement.

Gomes has attracted the attention of United scouts throughout the season, the report added. Their most recent observation occurred earlier this month during Wolves’ 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League at Molineux.

The 23-year-old, acquired by Wolves for £12 million from Flamengo in January 2023, is a subject of anticipated interest this summer. Wolves are reportedly already scouting for a potential successor should they opt to sell him.

Gomes aligns with the vision of Manchester United’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe is now overseeing the club’s football operations and seeks to avoid extravagant spending on established stars.

“The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. They’ve done that, if you look at the last 10 years,” said Ratcliffe in a podcast appearance this week.

“The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes, managing and organising the club. We must make sure we get recruitment right, such a vital part of running a football club is getting recruitment right, finding new players.”

Alongside Gomes, who is also being tracked by Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the Reds are also looking to bolster their defensive unit this summer.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has been identified as the favourite option in the centre of defence. But the 21-year-old’s potential fee could be a sticking point, with Toffees boss Sean Dyche seemingly desperate to keep hold of the English defender.