Manchester United are a club who are still in need of an overhaul during the summer window if they are to finally compete for a Premier League title in the years ahead.
Michael Carrick has certainly stabilised the ship and pushed the club in the right direction, subsequently winning four and drawing one of his opening five games as temporary boss.
He’s certainly made use of the £200m worth of funds that Ruben Amorim was handed in the summer window, with the recent results reflecting the impact he’s had on the Red Devils.
However, it remains to be seen if the 44-year-old, who won the January Manager of the Month award, will remain at Old Trafford beyond the end of the campaign.
Regardless of the managerial situation, the midfield department is still seen as an area of the pitch that needs huge improvement during the upcoming summer window.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder this summer
Over recent months, there’s been huge noise over United’s midfield situation, which has led to countless names being mentioned over a possible summer move to the Theatre of Dreams.
Nottingham Forest Elliot Anderson continues to be touted as the club’s number one option, but a deal could well be tricky to complete due to a number of key factors.
The Reds are said to be demanding a fee in the region of £100m for the England international, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City also keen on a move for his signature.
However, he’s not the only player who’s currently on their shortlist ahead of the summer window, with Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha another star who’s currently admired by INEOS.
According to one German outlet, the Red Devils have conducted work on the 25-year-old in recent months, which could lead to a possible summer transfer.
However, they aren’t alone in any pursuit of the German international, with fellow English clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both keen on a move for his signature.
The report also states that the Bundesliga side are currently holding out for a fee in the region of £40m to offload their star man during the upcoming transfer window.
Why Nmecha would be the perfect Casemiro replacement
Despite featuring in all but two league games for United this campaign, midfielder Casemiro announced he would be departing the club at the end of his current contract this summer.
The Brazilian has been a key member of the squad this season, as seen by his tally of seven goal contributions, but it’s the 33-year-old’s earnings that have no doubt played the biggest factor.
The former Real Madrid star is currently on a staggering £350k-per-week – the highest of any player in the squad – with such funds likely being redistributed among the current squad.
However, Kobbie Mainoo is certainly a player who is well-equipped to take responsibility in such a department, with the 20-year-old coming back into the side under Carrick.
The academy graduate, who was frozen out under Amorim, has since started every game under the temporary boss – even registering two assists in such a period.
The Englishman is starting to get back to the levels he produced in the 2023/24 campaign, but he may well struggle to dislodge Nmecha should he complete any move to Old Trafford this summer.
When comparing their respective stats from the current campaign, the Dortmund star has managed to outperform the United star in key areas – which highlights why he’d be a better option.
During the 2025/26 season, Nmecha has made more interceptions and ball recoveries per 90 – subsequently highlighting his dominance without the ball.
Casemiro’s departure opens up the need for a dominant option without the ball, with the German having all the qualities needed to fill such a void in the long term.
The transfer target has also won more of the ground and aerial duels he’s entered this campaign, which reaffirms his phenomenal ability to win the ball back for his side.
In possession, the Dortmund star has also bettered Mainoo, subsequently completing more forward passes per 90, along with a higher dribbles completion rate.
When combining all the aforementioned figures from the pair, it’s evident that Nmecha is a top-level talent and a bargain one if the £40m asking price is to be believed.
Mainoo is a player with a huge future at United, but he too could benefit from the German’s arrival, with the youngster having the chance to learn off the 25-year-old.
With Casemiro leaving, it’s crucial United make the right call with his replacement, with the Dortmund star making for a cost-effective yet top-level option to fill the Brazilian’s boots.
Leave a Reply