Manchester United ‘Eyeing’ Potential Replacement For Casemiro [Photo]

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana as a plausible alternative for the underperforming Casemiro, with rumors of the Brazilian’s subpar form this season echoing throughout Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old initially thrived in his debut season but has regrettably not maintained his high standards under Erik ten Hag’s second year of management.

According to RMC Sport, United stands among the clubs closely observing Fofana’s situation at Monaco. Alongside Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, the Red Devils are believed to be showing keen interest in the 24-year-old.

Reports suggest that Serie A representatives have reached out to Fofana on multiple occasions in recent months.

With Fofana’s contract at Monaco approaching its final 18 months, the French club faces the pivotal decision of either offloading him in January or during the summer if he doesn’t express a commitment to stay.

Given the dwindling duration of his current contract, Monaco might lack significant bargaining power in negotiations, providing United with the potential opportunity to secure Fofana for a considerably reduced fee compared to other midfield targets they might have in mind.

Youssouf Fofana (Image: AS Monaco/X)

Although Fofana had the chance to switch to the Premier League over the summer, opting to remain at Monaco, stating, “If you’re choosing between Monaco, Fulham and Nottingham, naturally I stay at Monaco,” after the transfer window concluded.

Erik ten Hag has been earnestly attempting to revamp the midfield setup since taking the reins at the club but has encountered difficulty in finding the ideal configuration.

While Bruno Fernandes often takes the advanced role of the three, Casemiro’s form dip this season has prompted the Dutch manager to explore alternative options.

Fred’s departure and the underwhelming performances of summer acquisitions Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat have further complicated matters.

Although Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen have been a midfield pivot in the last three games, there’s a growing sense that additional investment is imperative in this domain.

The anticipated acquisition of a 25% stake in United by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, approximately worth £1.3 billion, could be finalized as early as next week.

Ratcliffe is expected to oversee the sporting aspects of the club, with bolstering the squad in the January transfer window topping the agenda.

Having owned rival team Nice since 2019, Ratcliffe and his team are well-acquainted with Fofana’s skills in Ligue 1. Given his regular appearances in Didier Deschamps’ France squads, Fofana might envision his next career stride at a major Premier League club to exhibit his prowess, possibly viewing United as a long-term Casemiro replacement.