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After strengthening the defence and attack, supporting the midfield is INEOS’ top priority and to do this the Red Devils must first protect their squad from departures.
Casemiro, who underperformed last season, is one of the players the new co-owners want to get rid of, but Erik ten Hag is said to be keen to keep him.
Despite strong interest from the Saudi Professional League, no serious bid has been made so far, meaning a deal for Manuel Ugarte is yet to be finalised.
Christian Eriksen, who was Brazil’s key midfield partner in Ten Hag’s first season, is also among those who could leave with Ajax and Anderlecht keen on him.
The hunt for a midfielder has begun
Any sale would be lucrative, given that the Dane was signed on a free transfer. But if he were to leave, the 20-time English champions could be forced to sign more than one midfielder.
However, United, with a tight operating budget, are unlikely to spend too much on another midfielder, and Adrien Rabiot could emerge as an option in this situation.
The Frenchman has been a clear target for the club since Ten Hag’s arrival, but Old Trafford have missed out on his signature for the second year in a row.
Initially it was because of wage demands, but the 29-year-old chose to stay at Juventus last time. He has since left Turin and is looking for a new home.
As reported People’s manThe former Paris Saint-Germain star has already rejected advances from Liverpool and is gearing up for a move to the Theatre of Dreams.
According to Juve, the midfield maestro is asking for €10 million a year, which equates to around €200,000 a week. That’s a lot of money.
“The Premier League appears to be his next destination, with several clubs interested in signing Adrien Rabiot. The midfielder has rejected an offer from Liverpool despite the Anfield club being keen to sign him.
Rabi’s wage demands
“The reason for this rejection is that Rabiot has a clear target in mind: Manchester United. Manchester United’s interest in Rabiot is nothing new.
“The Old Trafford club have been closely monitoring the Frenchman’s career for several years and with him now available on a free transfer, it seems like the perfect opportunity for both parties. With a versatile playing style and the ability to command the midfield, Rabiot would fit nicely into Erik ten Hag’s plans with a wage bill in the region of £10m.”
But not having to pay a fee means the three-time Champions League winners can probably afford to pay that much, given Casemiro’s considerable wages are off their wage bill.
Rabiot is a versatile player who can play in several positions in midfield and is also a goal threat, having scored 16 goals in the last two seasons.
INEOS would prefer to sign a contract for a lower wage, but convincing her mother and agent, Veronique, is likely to be quite difficult.
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