Man Utd hold talks to sign £51m transfer Casemiro

It has been two weeks since the transfer window officially opened, and Manchester United are yet to sign permanently, it seems, they are busy starting the transformation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League last season, and while there were disappointing players on the pitch, the dramatic collapse of midfielder Casemiro was perhaps the most worrying.

So, it comes as no surprise that, according to recent reports, the latest player to be tipped for a move to Old Trafford could be the perfect replacement for the Brazilian giants.

Manchester United transfer news

According to the latest report from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via GIVEMESPORT, United are keen on Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

In fact, the Italian player revealed that the two clubs have discussed the future of the player and that the door for him to leave this summer is open.

A separate report from MailOnline late last week claimed the Paris outfit would be willing to sell the 23-year-old as long as they received a majority of the £51m they spent to sign him from Sporting CP last summer.

It remains to be seen whether the French champions will want the full £51m, but even if they do, signing Ugarte as a long-term replacement for Casemiro could prove to be a major undertaking for the United board.

How does Ugarte compare to Casemiro

A year is long in politics, but it's a lifetime in football. Last May Casemiro was described as the signing of the season by Gary Neville, and in his defense, it was not a strange statement, since, from the date of his surprise departure from Real Madrid announced in August 2022 until the end of that campaign. , the five-time Champions League winner did not put a foot down.

However, last season, his performances dropped significantly, and at the end of the campaign, Jamie Carragher told the incredibly experienced star to “call it a day” live on Sky Sports.

So, with that in mind, there are probably a number of defensive midfielders who would be better for the 32-year-old, but Ugarte looks better than any of the other six.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the midfield “destroyer”, as respected data analyst Ben Mattinson calls it, sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders, the top 4% in blocking and and the leading players. top 5% pass completed, all 90.

But how does he compare to the United man? When you compare their basic numbers, it becomes increasingly clear that the former Sporting man will be better.

For example, he excels in many metrics, including forward carries, passing accuracy, tackles, tackles won, interceptions, ball recoveries and successful tackles, all out of 90.

In contrast, the former Real man sets it up with stats such as expected penalty goals and assists, continuous passes, shot creation actions and blocks per 90, but that's about it.

Finally, Casemiro belongs to the modern day and enjoyed a good first campaign in Manchester, but after last season, it is clear that he has passed, and at 23 years old and with impressive numbers, Ugarte looks very good. instead.