Man Utd eye transfer breakthrough with FLOP approached over €40m deal

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 9 May 2024 10:59 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United could finally have a breakthrough in their plans to revamp their squad this summer, with reports that a team in Saudi Arabia is willing to make a €40 million bid for one of their high-salaried stars.

United are looking to raise as much as transfer budget as possible by selling a large portion of deadwood in their squad as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to pivot towards a younger future.

Older players on high wages are expected to be pushed towards an exit, none more so than Casemiro, who has endured a staggering fall off in his performances this season including a horror show in United’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace this week.

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And CaughtOffside claim that the 32-year-old could be offered a route out of England with a move to Al-Nassr, setting Casemiro up with a potential reunion with former Real Madrid and United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The report states that Al Nassr have already held talks with Casemiro’s representatives over a summer transfer, with the Brazilian open to leaving United for the right offer.

Al Nassr are ready to bid €40m and offer Casemiro a three-year deal to convince him to move to the Saudi Pro League, with United desperately looking to cash in on the veteran.

Casemiro set to depart after dramatic decline

Casemiro joined as a high-profile signing for United in Erik ten Hag’s first summer at the club, penning a four-year contract for a fee of €70m.

Despite a promising first season in which he was named player of the match as United won the EFL Cup, the midfielder’s performances and fitness levels have significantly declined in recent months.

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The ex-Madrid man was at fault for a number of goals against Palace, having been forced into a centre-back role due to injuries and he was strongly criticised by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after the game.

“I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level,” Carragher said. “The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.

"This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of the modern time. I always remember the saying 'leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.

"The level of that player, he should not be putting himself through this. He is too good of a player to be putting in a performance like that being laughed at by Crystal Palace. He needs to call it a day."