Man Utd face SHOCK competition in transfer for Casemiro replacement

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 16 Nov 2024 09:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United could face shock competition to sign their preferred replacement for Casemiro after one club confirmed their interest in one of the Red Devils’ long-term transfer targets.

United are believed to be open to selling Casemiro in the coming months despite the 32-year-old having a much-improved start to this season after a difficult campaign last year.

The Brazilian is one of the top earners at Old Trafford and United would be willing to cash in on him as he enters the final 18 months of his contract, particularly if he could be replaced by someone younger and cheaper.

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United have long-held an interest in Leon Goretzka and have been confirmed to be considering a move for him either in January or next summer when his contract at Bayern Munich is set to expire.

However, Goretzka’s potential availability has attracted the attention of a number of clubs including Union Berlin, with the Bundesliga side’s director Horst Heldt admitting his team would be interested in the Bayern star.

“It is known that his current situation isn’t easy,” Heldt told Bild. “He’ll obviously think about his future. Any club can imagine having Leon Goretzka. We can also imagine that very, very well.”

United could be favourites to sign Goretzka in 2025

Goretzka joined Bayern on a free transfer in 2018 and has played more than 200 games for the German side but the 29-year-old has made just one start in the Bundesliga this season.

United enjoy a strong relationship with Bayern, having signed Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from the Bundesliga giants during the summer, and could look to sign Goretzka on a cut-price deal in January.

Current ETV

Leon Goretzka

M, DM (C)

Bayern

Leon Goretzka

M, DM (C)

Bayern

€19.5M

ETV Range

€14.6M - €24.4M

View full profile

Bayern are believed to be willing to listen to offers for Goretzka, while the German international is understood to have taken on new representation ahead of the winter window despite previously suggesting that he would stay with the Bavarians to try and fight for his place in the team.

Goretzka remains one of the highest earners at Bayern and his wage demands could mean that United have the edge over Union in the race to sign him.

However, a lot will depend on the opinion of Ruben Amorim, who arrived at Old Trafford this week to begin work as the club’s new manager following the sacking of Erik ten Hag last month.