INEOS’ own Casemiro: Man Utd in contact over signing £218k-p/w “madman”

Casemiro, and those watching on at Old Trafford, were stunned by Ruben Amorim’s decision to withdraw the Brazilian on Friday evening, as Manchester United ultimately battled their way to a narrow win over Newcastle United.

There would, however, be even greater shock if the ex-Real Madrid hero was to still be part of Amorim’s ranks heading into next season, with the 33-year-old’s stay in Manchester almost certainly coming to a close.

Indeed, with just six months left to run on his existing deal, it would appear highly unlikely for the £350k-per-week star to be offered an extension, not least considering Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ clear frustration that such a deal was signed off on in the first place by the previous regime.

Speaking earlier this year, Ratcliffe included Casemiro in a list of what he branded ‘inherited’ signings – hardly a glowing assessment of those players – with reports as far back as 2023 suggesting that the Billionaire businessman viewed the midfielder’s capture as a clear reason to need to shake up the club’s recruitment policy.

It has been a tale of young, high-potential additions since INEOS walked in the door, but might that change heading into 2026?

Man Utd learn terms for INEOS' own Casemiro signing

There is a real possibility that every senior midfielder at Old Trafford could be elsewhere next summer, with Casemiro out of contract and Bruno Fernandes having hinted at a potential change, with the Portuguese’s own deal expiring in 2027.

United are believed to be open to offers for Manuel Ugarte, while Kobbie Mainoo appears to view his future elsewhere, having still yet to start a Premier League game this season under Amorim.

That has sparked the need to consider a raft of midfield replacements heading into the New Year, with targets both for the summer and for January being considered.

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As per TEAMtalk’s Dean Jones, while Everton’s James Garner is being touted for a return to his former club, another player currently in the equation is Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka.

According to Jones, there is a suggestion that contact has already been made regarding the experienced German, with the report outlining that United have “been made aware of the terms for signing” the 30-year-old.

Goretzka, like Garner and Casemiro, is out of contract in June, ensuring he could be a potential bargain pick-up for the United hierarchy.

Why Goretzka could be another Casemiro-style signing

Fernandes has bucked the trend over the last six years or so, yet it’s fair to say that the midfield department has been a consistent issue in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson world.

From Paul Pogba, to Nemanja Matic, to Donny van de Beek, a string of high-profile names have attempted to be the much-needed solution, albeit with limited success.

It would be fair to say that Casemiro has actually been one of the more impactful deals of the lot, scoring 21 goals in 141 games from his deep-lying berth, including the opener in the 2023 Carabao Cup final.

That said, the decision to invest such a significant £70m fee, alongside a sizeable salary, in a player who was 30 at the time, remains a real head-scratcher, with even his recent resurgence unable to mask the decline that he endured in Erik ten Hag’s final days.

Of course, in the case of Goretzka, it is unlikely that United would have to fork out a hefty fee, or any at all, should he join next summer, although considering his €250k-per-week (£218k-per-week) wage at Bayern, it could still prove to be another expensive misfire.

Set to turn 31 in February, the 67-cap Germany international would likely be another short-term fix at a time when United are in need of long-term solutions in the centre of the park.

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That’s not to say that every club should follow the Chelsea model of merely targeting youth, but considering Amorim’s current midfield situation, the likes of Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson appear to be the better bet.

Goretzka, like Casemiro, would present a proven, elite-level player undoubtedly, with ex-teammate Sami Khedira hailing him as a “machine”, while noting that he has worked “like a madman” to revive his standing back at Bayern.

The towering, box-to-box midfielder has been a regular fixture this season again under Vincent Kompany, making 23 appearances in all competitions, although he is yet to register a single goal or assist, after netting six times in all last term.

Again, like Casemiro, he is a Champions League winner who has enjoyed a fruitful, lengthy stay at one of Europe’s top clubs, registering 94 goals and assists in 287 games for the Bundesliga, although there would be a nagging sense that United are acquiring another player whose best days are behind him.

And so, with Ratcliffe and INEOS having been so critical of the club’s Casemiro-style deals in years gone by, they’d be wise to avoid a repeat with regard to Goretzka.

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