Man Utd told to replace 'tired' Casemiro with €80m 'whole package'

Tom Weber

Updated: 15 Jan 2025 09:38 CST
4 min read

Casemiro, Ruben Amorim, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Manchester United have been told to swoop for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand amid talk of Casemiro heading to Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian midfielder is clearly past his best and, given his gargantuan wage, Man Utd are determined to offload him this month. Casemiro was already linked with an exit in the summer, but as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed at the time, he wanted to fight for his place and rejected a move to Saudi Arabia.

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However, the season hasn't gone to plan for the 32-year-old and new coach Ruben Amorim has preferred other options to the ageing midfielder, which has led to Casemiro warming to the idea of a Saudi switch.

Indeed, former Man Utd and Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be pushing for Al-Nassr to sign Casemiro and it appears as though a departure from Old Trafford is likely this month.

Casemiro's heir apparent, Manuel Ugarte, has put in some encouraging performances of late but coach Ruben Amorim already acknowledged during his Sporting days that there is a more complete midfielder out there.

Man Utd told to sign Hjulmand

That man, of course, is Sporting star Morten Hjulmand, who has been sensational since replacing Ugarte in 2023. "I love [Joao] Palhinha and Ugarte, but I would say that Hjulmand is the most complete player in his position," Amorim said shortly after signing the Dane.

History has since proved Amorim correct, with Hjulmand quickly establishing himself as one of Sporting's key players and even being handed the club captaincy.

Late last year, Denmark coach Brian Riemer waxed lyrical about the 25-year-old, saying that he could play for every top-six side in England. Now, former Denmark international Per Frimann has urged Man Utd to sign his compatriot.

“He has quickly become captain at Sporting, and he is a player that many clubs could use. It’s one thing to want a defensive midfielder, but you need someone who has the whole package,” Frimann told Tipsbladet.

“When Manchester United brought Casemiro, for example, he didn’t have the whole package, because he had grown tired, and he had grown old. This guy is in his prime, and there is no doubt that he would be able to fit in with Amorim at United."

Hjulmand has an €80 million release clause, which makes it highly unlikely that Man Utd will be able to make a move for him in January.