Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos face a tall order in finding Casemiro’s replacement at Manchester United — and Nicky Butt has a strong warning over one target.
Manchester United’s midfield is in need of a serious rebuild outside of Kobbie Mainoo, who has enjoyed a career resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick.
Kobbie Mainoo must be at the heart of the Man Utd midfield dynamic ahead of Casemiro leaving Old Trafford at the end of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Manuel Ugarte has also been linked with a summer exit after struggling for United first-team minutes, with Ineos now set to address a core issue in the squad.
If Casemiro wanted to stay one more year – surely you would let him?!
Nicky Butt’s feelings on Eduardo Camavinga show why Man Utd could be taking a major risk with a transfer
Eduardo Camavinga has been one name linked with Manchester United, with fellow Premier League clubs Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea also interested in him.
It has been reported that Real Madrid could be open to selling the 23-year-old France international, who can play both in the midfield and as a left-back.
Eduardo Camavinga has been valued at around £45m ahead of the summer transfer window and the Real Madrid star could be one viable midfield target for United.
However, Nicky Butt made it clear that United signing Camavinga could come back to haunt them after his no-nonsense assessment of the former Rennes star.
“When you look at what could be available and what would work for us, who do you think out there would be?” Peter Schmeichel asked.
Responding to the United legend on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt said: “The Real Madrid lad, what’s he called?”
When Paul Scholes asked if he was referring to Aurelien Tchouameni or Camavinga, Butt added: “I think Camavinga’s liability.”
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If Ineos splash out on one high-profile midfielder, Man Utd should be after Aurelien Tchouameni over Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga’s costly form in the Champions League for Real Madrid this season could lead to further destabilisation for Man Utd if he signed.
The replacement of Casemiro could not carry more risk after United have seen stability in the Brazilian’s resurgence in form alongside the revitalised Kobbie Mainoo.
Aurelien Tchouameni, on the other hand, was Casemiro’s heir apparent at Los Blancos in 2022 after Madrid sanctioned the £70m sale of the Brazilian to United.
The 26-year-old French midfielder has been linked with United — same as Camavinga — and would reportedly cost the Red Devils in excess of £70m.
If United were willing to ‘break the bank’ to sign one big-money midfielder, Camavinga would be more naturally suited as Casemiro’s replacement.
After all, the France international has done it once before at Madrid and there is no doubt he could do it again at Man Utd after his success in the Spanish capital.
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