Casemiro attracts fresh transfer interest as Manchester United plot three sales in January

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Manchester United are set to be quiet in the January transfer window, although that could change if players are sold midway through the season.

The club is financially limited as Sir Jim Ratcliffe inflicts further spending costs, including 250 staff redundancies and increased ticket prices during an underwhelming season.

Manchester United also spent £206 million in five new signings over the summer. Those players are still to settle in, but it doesn’t help that they’re trying to adjust to an unsettled environment as managerial changes occur.

It doesn’t help that United paid around £3m in compensation to Newcastle United for sporting director Dan Ashworth before sacking him months later. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag is due a hefty package of around £17m after being sent his matching orders at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim could argue that United need signings now as they slip closer to the Premier League relegation zone than competing in the top four, but it will be difficult unless the club finds a way to sell players who are deemed surplus to requirement.

Casemiro wanted in Saudi Arabia

There was talk of a move for Casemiro in the summer, but one never materialised due to a lack of interest.

United would sell Casemiro if there was an appropriate offer as fans have long accepted that he isn’t the player he was despite being one of the club’s highest earners.

The 32-year-old earns £350,000 per week and his contract expires at the end of next season.

According to the Daily Mail, Casemiro is attracting fresh interest from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah.

Al-Ittihad considered a deal for Casemiro in the summer, but they have reached their full quota of foreign players. They would need to sell before they can strengthen their squad with the likes of Casemiro.

After an impressive debut season at United, the Brazilian international has struggled to replicate the form that made him one of the world’s best midfielders during his time at Real Madrid. That was when he won five Champions League titles with the Spanish giants.

Casemiro’s appeal to Saudi Arabia is that they would be getting an experienced player who has won everything in the game. It remains to be seen if the player will be open to such a move.

Under Amorim, the 32-year-old has found himself more frequently left on the bench, so perhaps the writing is on the wall.

Fire sale at Manchester United

Amorim needs time to shape his team how he wants and that will eventually mean changing personnel by buying and selling players.

The club’s financial situation makes life difficult for the United head coach and he will have to work with what he has until the end of the season at least.

Casemiro is one player deemed available in the market, but he isn’t alone because the same report states that United hope to sell Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof this month.

Eriksen performed poorly in a midfield duo with Casemiro on Monday night as United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at Old Trafford. Neither player had the legs to keep up with the Magpies as they ran riot through midfield.

Meanwhile, Lindelof has regularly been linked with moves away without anything materialising. The Swede slipped further down the pecking order in the summer when United added to their defensive department with signings such as Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro.