United have been in contact with Italian maestro seen as the perfect successor to departing Casemiro – report

Manchester United made it four wins out of four under Michael Carrick, courtesy of a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday. The visitors went down to 10 men in the 29th minute, but that does not necessarily make it any easier, as the Red Devils will attest to. They had lost to Everton under Ruben Amorim, often struggling to break down low-defensive blocks. But not on Saturday. A clever set-piece routine and a calm head meant United cemented their grip on fourth spot, inching closer to third place. Casemiro in form Casemiro enjoyed another fine outing in the middle of the park, and plenty of ex-players have been calling on INEOS to reverse their decision. The Brazilian is all set to depart the Theatre of Dreams in the summer once his contract expires after the co-owners opted against triggering the one-year extension option. United have been linked with various midfielders, and Tribuna have thrown a brand new name into the mix — Manuel Locatelli of Juventus. The Italian has been at Juve for over three years, but his time at the Allianz Stadium could be drawing to a close after the 20-time English league champions got in touch with his representatives recently. His successor identified As per the report, United see him as the perfect successor for Casemiro, and he could be available for as low as €35–40 million. “Under Luciano Spalletti, Manuel Locatelli has elevated his game, achieving the progression many predicted — a rise that may now draw interest from the continent’s elite clubs, particularly in England. “The midfielder has entered the radar of Manchester United. The Red Devils have reportedly been in contact with the player’s representatives, identifying him as a potential successor to Casemiro, who is set to leave. “Considering his contract runs until June 2028, Juventus is unlikely to let him go for anything less than €35–40 million.” Manuel Locatelli is a born leader While INEOS mainly prefer younger signings, replacing the Brazilian not only requires a player of quality but also one who has tons of experience and leadership capabilities. And Manuel Locatelli certainly fits the bill. He is the current Bianconeri skipper, and won the Euros with Italy. He knows all about pressure-cooker environments and how to win. Whether United will go after the Italy international for the aforementioned amount or will pounce for soon-to-be free agent Leon Goretzka remains to be seen. A younger, more mobile midfielder is likely to be top of the club’s agenda. Feature image Gareth Copley 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25