According to Jason Burt of The Telegraph, several Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in signing Manchester United’s Casemiro as well as Bruno Fernandes.
The report claims that while most of the clubs have filled up their quota of eight foreign players several of them are expected to leave in the summer which will then allow the Pro League clubs to bring in fresh faces. Burt is of the view that the Saudi teams are looking to make as many as 10 marquee signings in the summer.
Casemiro was signed from Real Madrid in 2022 and last season, he was brilliant in the middle of the pitch. However, his form has seen a massive decline this campaign and there are already talks amongst the Man United management to get rid of him.
Will the Pro League clubs be able to land both Casemiro as well as Fernandes?
The Telegraph’s report makes it very clear that Bruno Fernandes has only been discussed internally and the clubs know very well that this one transfer is a distant dream.
Fernandes has been one of the rare constant performers for Man United and no matter how poor Man United have been, their new owners won’t even think of offloading him at the end of this season. The Red Devils have been an utter mess but still, Fernandes has had 17 goal contributions in 33 Premier League games this campaign.
Mason Mount was brought in to add competition to the No 10 role but the England international has spent most of this season on the treatment table and in such a scenario, the INEOS owners will never put a player like Bruno Fernandes on the market.
However, this interest from the Pro League gives Man United a very good chance to cash in on Casemiro and bag a handsome transfer fee. His performances have been so poor that he has been dropped from the Brazilian squad for the Copa America and no major European club will want to sign him in the summer. The cash-rich Saudi clubs though won’t mind paying a premium for him.
United had paid around €70 million for the Brazilian midfielder but his current market value is only €30 million. However, if the Red Devils can secure around €50 million from his sale then it will be a great bit of business. Also, by offloading the 32-year-old, Man United will be able to free up a large portion of their wage bill because Casemiro is the highest-earning player in the squad earning €400,000 per week.
Manchester United are not going to sell Bruno that’s for sure but they are already out in the market looking for a new central midfielder so it’s almost certain that Casemiro is going to leave. And if the Brazilian international heads to the Saudi Pro League, United will be able to recoup a large chunk of the transfer they had paid for him.
