Report: Manchester United Manager Erik ten Hag Makes Major Transfer U-Turn Likely to Surprise Pundits

As Manchester United is on the verge of securing their fifth summer signing, the club will also be concentrating on player departures in the remaining ten days of the transfer window.

The Red Devils have been pursuing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte all summer, with the club said to be nearing a breakthrough with the Uruguayan closing in on an initial season-long loan deal. 

With the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui setting the club back £140million, outgoings are needed in order to balance the club’s PSR commitments.

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One name heavily linked with a move away earlier this summer was midfielder Casemiro, who suffered a torrid end to last season. Reports suggested that bids from the Saudi Pro League would be welcomed this summer, but nothing has materialised at this late stage of the window.

And according to The Sun, the Brazilian returned to pre-season training in excellent condition and his positive start to the season has seen Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag perform a u-turn on the 32-year-old and the club are no longer looking to move him on. The player himself is said to be happy to remain at the club as a Saudi move did not appeal to him.

The choice to keep Casemiro is certainly an interesting one, given the criticism that the Brazilian faced last season. On Monday Night Football last term following a hefty 4-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace, pundit Jamie Carragher was scathing in his analysis, claiming that “the game had gone” from the ageing midfielder.

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Instead, Scott McTominay looks like being the most likely midfield departure to create space for Ugarte, with Napoli the latest side to inquire about the Scotland international.

Fulham had been linked with the 27-year-old, but the Cottagers are now closing in on a move for Burnley midfielder Sander Berge, who had previously been linked with the Red Devils.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, a fit and firing Casemiro still has plenty to offer Manchester United. Clearly, he was a shadow of the player he can be during the run-in last season, but if he has rediscovered his inner drive and is ready to prove the ‘class is permanent’ saying is true, then his experience could be vital for this much-changed team.

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