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Manchester United opened the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday as the team created numerous chances and hogged most of the ball possession.
The Red Devils ended the game with 56 percent of the ball with Erik ten Hag not relying on high-transitions as last season, preferring to build up play from the back.
And this change has really suited Casemiro, who looked imperious while shielding the back four while he also found his passing range, creating a few glorious chances only for Bruno Fernandes to spurn them both.
INEOS were rightly concerned with the Brazilian’s form after seeing how he performed last season and in pre-season and were ready to go against the manager’s wishes and sell him this window.
Casemiro’s improving form
However, with Saudi interest not materialising in a concrete bid and with the former Real Madrid star impressing against Manchester City and now the Cottagers, Ten Hag’s stance seems vindicated.
And that is why the 20-time English league champions are considering moving on from their pursuit of Manuel Ugarte of Paris Saint-Germain as per ESPN journalist Julien Laurens.
INEOS will not be held to ransom by the Ligue 1 side who are asking for €60 million despite the midfielder not being in Luis Enrique’s plans for the season.
With Kobbie Mainoo also capable of playing at the base of the midfield, the team from Old Trafford do not require heavy investment in that area especially if Casemiro continues in the same vein.
“United have had two offers rejected already, but they were quite a while ago. In the last three weeks, it’s been a bit quieter, maybe because if you look at the game [on Friday], we had a good Casimero, much better than anything that we saw last season, for example.
“Would you go and spend 65 million or 60 million on Ugarte when Casimero is in this form? You need more bodies, that’s for sure, especially in that defensive midfield role,” Laurens told ESPN FC (via Givemesport).
Ugarte not needed?
“But spend all that money for somebody who might not be a starter in your team, that’s where I think that’s where Ugarte to United possibly is right now. I think they are pondering it because if [Kobbie] Mainoo and Casimiro can offer you a really good season, then the backup doesn’t have to be worth 65 million.”
A lower-cost option like Sander Berge could be pursued instead but the new co-owners will not be paying as much as Burnley are demanding currently.
The Brazilian is not as fit as before and he does not have the pace needed to thrive in the English top-flight consistently but if his minutes are managed and the team acquire a stop-gap solution, it would be fine for now.
United will obviously pounce for Ugarte should PSG reduce their asking price or agree a straight swap with Jadon Sancho heading to Parc des Princes.
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