In January, Manchester United officially confirmed that Casemiro will depart Old Trafford this summer after four years at the club.
The Brazilian veteran has been a polarising figure at the club during his stay. He arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation as one of the best destroyers in Europe at the time. He enjoyed a fairly decent first season at the club, but has since been inconsistent.
Several fans, pundits and analysts alike had claimed “his legs have gone” during the next two and a half years at the club, but under interim boss Michael Carrick, he looks like he is enjoying a late career resurgence.
As he nears 34, United’s new hierarchy are in the market for a successor who can balance Casemiro’s grit with modern tactical intelligence both in and out of possession.
With Manchester United officially confirming that the Brazilian will depart Old Trafford this summer, a massive hole has opened up in the heart of the pitch.
From Bundesliga “hidden gems” to proven Premier League powerhouses, here are seven names that should be on United’s radar for the summer of 2026.
7. Chema Andres (VfB Stuttgart)
If Man United want to act upon the “smart recruitment” model they have been preaching, then they need to look no further than Chema Andres.
Andres has been taking the Bundesliga by storm since signing for Stuttgart for a tiny £1.8m. At 190cm, he’s a physical outlier. While often compared to Rodri, his data suggests he’s a stability specialist similar to Carrick in his playing days, or Sergio Busquets in the twilight of his career.
Although he has an impressive 94% passing accuracy, it is his Possession-Adjusted (PAdj) defensive data that really pops.
The Spaniard is currently matching the output of the world’s most experienced anchors. At the moment, Real Madrid hold an £11.7m buy-back clause. United must move before the Spanish giants decide to call him home.
6. Carlos Baleba (Brighton)
At the start of the 2025/2026 season, United were sniffing around Baleba. It made sense considering Baleba is the ultimate press-resistant midfielder.
If Man United want a ball carrier to help them with their progression up the pitch from deep areas, then Baleba is the man.
He’s combative and energetic, providing the box-to-box athleticism United’s midfield have often lacked during transitions.
Casemiro prefers to pass his way out of trouble, while Baleba drives forward with it. According to data compiled by The Athletic, he has recorded over double the progressive carries (119) of the Brazilian (55) since 2023.
5. Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Elliot Anderson has grown increasingly influential for both Nottingham Forest and England since he departed Newcastle United.
He has become the heartbeat of Forest’s build-up, accounting for 16 percent of their total passes this season. This shows his ability to help his side retain possession as much as possible.
Off the ball, he has been even more outstanding. With 220 recoveries this season, he dwarfs the next best in the league (Joao Gomes of Wolves at 141).
If United want someone to hoover up loose balls and immediately restart the attack, Anderson is the safest Premier League proven bet.
4. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
Sandro Tonali was offered to Arsenal towards the end of the January transfer window, indicating the Italian midfielder is in search of a new challenge.
Despite Newcastle’s recent defensive wobbles, Tonali remains a world-class all-action option who turns 26 this May.
Alongside Bruno Guimares, Tonali shuts down counter-attacks and possesses a long-range strike that can change games.
Although Tonali might be a costly addition, his Premier League experience, as well as his prior-title-winning pedigree with AC Milan – a side he helped return to the top after 11 years of struggles back in 2022 – might be valuable for United.
It must, however, be noted that Tonali might stay at Newcastle if they get European football.
3. Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
Casemiro’s dominance in the air has been valuable for United. The former Real Madrid man has already scored four headers this season. If they want a like-for-like replacement, then Amadou Onana is the man.
This season, no Premier League central midfielder has won a higher proportion of aerial duels (75%) than Onana.
At 6’4”, the former Everton man is an underrated anchor—assured on the ball and one of the division’s cleanest tacklers.
2. Wouter Burger (Hoffenheim)
Wouter Burger has exploded in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim since signing from Stoke City in 2025.
According to data compiled by The Athletic, he is very similar to Casemiro. In terms of goal threat from midfield, the Brazilian is in the 94th percentile. His shot frequency stands in the 74th percentile. Burger, meanwhile, is in the 91st percentile for goal threat and 54th for shot frequency.
This element shows he has a knack for arriving late in the box, providing a goal-scoring threat from deep that mirrors Casemiro’s offensive output.
More data by scoutingstats.ai shows his tendency to progress the ball forward via long balls is above average in the Bundesliga.
Off the ball, Burger is in the 93rd percentile for aerial volume and 87th for front-foot defending. Casemiro is in the 89th percentile for the former, and 98th for the latter.
Burger has experience of the physicality of English football, having made close to 100 appearances in his two seasons at Stoke in the Championship.
Although he lacks Premier League experience, he has amassed top-flight minutes in Germany, which should bode well for him in the future.
Honorable Mention: Mamadou Sangare (Lens)
Lens struck gold with the Mali international. If United want a destroyer in the purest sense, Sangare is the choice.
He ranks third for take-ons among Ligue 1 midfielders but is primarily a dominant defensive presence who covers massive amounts of ground.
Sangare represents the chance to get ahead of the curve on a young talent before his price tag soars.
1. Ederson (Atalanta)
Without doubt, Manchester United should consider replacing Casemiro with his fellow Brazilian midfielder Ederson.
The Atalanta midfielder is a physical presence who hoovers up danger, but at 26, he offers far more mobility.
Ederson is a possession specialist. While Casemiro has the ability to attempt extraordinary 60-yard diagonals and fascinating line-breaking passes, Ederson prefers short, sharp distribution that keeps the team in rhythm.
Ederson is the type of player who could free up players like Kobbie Mainoo to thrive. By covering both boxes and reading the game with elite anticipation, Ederson provides the safety net Old Trafford has been missing.
The Verdict
With Manuel Ugarte’s future at Man United also uncertain, and Mainoo expected to thrive in a position further up the field as he continues progressing, the club must beef up their midfield this summer.
The great Manchester United sides under Sir Alex Ferguson were famed for having proper engine rooms. Players like Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and even Carrick set the base upon which everything else ticked during their playing days.
If they are ever to get back to those heights, United need to nail their midfielder recruitment this summer, which is only likely to happen after they decide on their permanent manager.
