Manchester United Are Closing In On Real Madrid’s Casemiro For £50.7 Million

Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro for 60 million euros (£50.7 million) plus 10 million euros (£8.5 million) in add-ons.

The talks have moved quickly, and United believe the deal for the 30-year-old Brazilian international will be completed within the next few days.

Casemiro has been with Real Madrid since 2013, during which time he has won three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues.

United are in last place in the Premier League and face Liverpool on Monday.

Casemiro would become one of United’s highest-paid players if he completes the transfer and signs a four-year contract with an option for an additional year.

After talks to sign Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot collapsed over the player’s demands, United have turned their attention to Casemiro as they look to address weaknesses in Erik ten Hag’s midfield.

Although Casemiro has a contract that runs to 2025, Real are mindful of the scale of United’s offer of a contract that could extend to 2027 once the option of an additional season is added on. They would not stand in his way if he decided to accept.

He would arrive at United on a big salary in keeping with his status as one of 30 players nominated for this year’s Ballon D’Or, even if his place at Real is under threat from new arrival Aurelien Tchouameni.

One of the best defensive midfield players in the world, Casemiro has been effective in a team that drops deep when it does not have possession, which Real tend to do with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in their team.

Casemiro’s impact can be seen by looking at Opta statistics to compare his figures against those of other central midfielders in La Liga last season.

The Brazil international was first in successful blocks, second in tackles made (behind Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets), and third overall in possession won. Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino took first place, with Busquets coming in second.

He also contributed to Real’s attacks, ranking fifth in the league in forward passes and joint-sixth in shots among central midfielders.

Casemiro spent a season on loan at Porto in Portugal in 2014-15, but returned to Spain the following season after Real activated his buy-back clause.

He has appeared in 222 games for the Spanish giants and scored 24 goals.