United eye €80m move for former Real Madrid midfielder who has 10 g/a in Serie A this season – report

Manchester United are plotting another raid on Real Madrid to address their problematic midfield position. The Red Devils prised Casemiro away from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2022 and he has been a fantastic addition to the squad. However, the Brazilian is already in the final phase of his career and cannot be expected to continue at the same level for much longer. His contract, meanwhile, expires at the end of this season, further adding to speculation surrounding his future. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Red Devils are willing to extend Casemiro’s stay at the club, but only on a reduced contract. However, that has not stopped the Premier League giants from considering reinforcement options for midfield. United’s midfield targets United’s need for midfield reinforcements has been well documented, given their struggles on the pitch this season. Casemiro’s replacement is on the club’s agenda, and they also have to put in place succession plans for Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese maestro continues to be indispensable for the Red Devils this season, but will turn 32 at the start of the next campaign. His contract, meanwhile, runs out in just over 18 months. INEOS’ preference for Premier League-proven targets has seen them linked with Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, and Adam Wharton for the job. On the other hand, Eintracht Frankfurt midfield magician Angelo Stiller is reportedly in the mix as well. Real Madrid duo Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham have also been mentioned as options for the job. However, it now appears that the Premier League giants have set their sights on a former Los Blancos man for the role. United want Nico Paz According to Defensa Central, United are ready to break the bank for Como midfielder Nico Paz. The Argentine rose through the ranks at Real Madrid before moving to the Serie A side in the summer of 2024. Paz has been outstanding for Como this season, registering five goals and five assists from 16 games in all competitions. Nico Paz Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Serie A15553-1,333′ Italy Cup1—-90′ Total16553-1,423′ Source: Transfermarkt. The Red Devils are already convinced by Paz and are reportedly willing to offer €80 million for his signature. Meanwhile, Real Madrid own 50% of the player’s right and also retain several buy-back clauses in his contract. The LaLiga giants have an option to sign Paz for just €10 million next summer, which, given the player’s form, they are likely to exercise. However, there’s a plethora of midfield talents at the Santiago Bernabeu and the 21 year old could struggle for game time if he agrees to move. The report adds that Real Madrid could instead trigger the buy back option and then sell the Argentine to United to secure a hefty profit. That could suit all parties involved. Final Thoughts Paz’s ability to score goals as well as set up his teammates could make him a fine long-term replacement for Bruno Fernandes. However, the finances involved certainly add a degree of risk to the move, especially since several big-money signings from foreign leagues have failed to succeed at Old Trafford of late. Fernandes, meanwhile, has been one of the exceptions and there’s no denying that the Premier League giants will have to put in a lot of effort to find his ideal successor. Only time will tell if Paz could become that player. Feature image Marco Luzzani via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.