Stefan Borson: Man United to spend £100m on signing Casemiro replacement
Manchester United are preparing for life without Casemiro after it’s been confirmed he will be leaving Old Trafford.
It was understood Casemiro would have to accept a pay cut if he were to remain with the 20-time English champions due to his £375,000-a-week wages.
However, Casemiro will now leave Man United on a free transfer once his contract expires on 30 June.
The Manchester giants are considering their options to replace the Brazil international after he’s featured heavily this season.
Football Insider revealed on 18 January Man United will wait until the summer to sign a top midfielder, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson understood to be on their list of targets.
Why Man United face 'risk' agreeing Casemiro replacement deal
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it will cost Man United between £80-100million to replace Casemiro in the summer transfer window.
Man United are expected to save around £20m once the 33-year-old leaves Old Trafford.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “If you're talking about signing a top midfield player to sit in Manchester United's midfield, the range of cost is clearly £80-100m, which has with it £20m of amortisation cost per annum.
“It's one step forward cutting yourself off from a very high cost of an older player, but Casemiro has to be replaced and there's lots of risk with all of these acquisitions.
“Manchester United in particular have recruited in midfield many players where it hasn't worked, and then you're stuck with a very high cost that's very hard to move. I mean, Ugarte is a perfect example. Again, you just have to see how it pans out.”
Casemiro's likely destination revealed after Man United exit
Borson believes Casemiro will agree a move to Saudi Arabia after Man United decided not to extend his contract.
“It's interesting that they didn't renegotiate with Casemiro,” said Borson.
“I didn't think that they would just give him a continuation. He's definitely not in that sort of shape to get a continuation at the same sort of wages. The only question was whether they were going to renegotiate the contract so that he stayed a year. It looks like that's not happening.
“Then the question will also be what does he look like between now and the end of the season? Does he protect himself? Does he go full out? You would think he'll sign a deal with probably a Saudi team to go in the summer.
“You would think it might be questionable whether he's going to put himself on the line given that he's leaving in the summer. You just don't know, so we'll see on that.”
Casemiro made his 20th start of the season in Man United’s 3-2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (25 January).
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