Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Casemiro is joining Manchester United, in what will be a significant lift for Erik ten Hag as he bids to lift the club from the bottom of the Premier League.
United are set to make Casemiro their fourth acquisition of the transfer window after an initial €60m fee was agreed with Real Madrid, the 30-year-old midfielder also accepting personal terms of a four-year contract of circa £350,000 a-week, with the option of another 12 months.
The Brazilian’s signing will represent a coup for United after a difficult summer in the market that has featured unsuccessful moves for Jurien Timber, Marko Arnautovic and Adrien Rabiot plus a long-term pursuit of Frenkie de Jong stall with less than two weeks left before the 1 September deadline.
Real coach Ancelotti said: “I have spoken with Casemiro. He wants to try a new challenge. We understand his decision,” the Italian said. “Yesterday [Thursday] I realised it was a real thing. My plans won’t change. As far as a replacement is concerned we have signed [Aurélien] Tchouaméni and he’s one of the best on the market. Then we have [Toni] Kroos and [Eduardo] Camavinga.”
While the fee also includes a further €10m in add-ons, Casemiro’s medical and visa should be addressed this weekend though the latter may take a few days as was the case for Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, two of Ten Hag’s other additions.
If the deal does become official as expected Casemiro should immediately improve United’s midfield. Ten Hag has only Fred and Scott McTominay as regular, frontline players in the department. Casemiro will bring a proven winning mentality, having claimed five Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles with Real since joining the Spanish club from Brazil’s São Paulo in 2013.
Ten Hag also wants to sign Antony, the Ajax forward. While the Dutch club is reluctant to sell, the Guardian understands the 22-year-old is disappointed with Ajax’s stance and is hopeful a transfer to United can still occur. To do so a fee of £80m or more may be required for the Brazilian to be added to another area of the squad Ten Hag wishes to strengthen.
Another Netherlands-based player, the PSV winger Cody Gakpo, is an alternative identified by Ten Hag to Antony and would cost considerably less.
