Casemiro is set to become a free agent when his Manchester United contract expires at the end of the season, after a decision was made not to trigger a one-year option

Major League Soccer (MLS) has emerged as a potential next destination for Manchester United midfielder Casemiro when his contract expires and he leaves Old Trafford at the end of the season.

United confirmed last month that Casemiro, 34, will depart the Reds this summer after four years at the club. During his time in Manchester to date, the Brazilian has made 150 appearances, scoring 22 goals.

While there was talk that United might extend Casemiro’s contract due to his up-turn his form across the last 12 months, the Reds have opted not to trigger the one-year option they have on his current deal.

It does mean, however, that Casemiro is set to become a free agent and there is significant interest in the five-time Champions League winner. Indeed, according to The Telegraph, MLS clubs are eyeing up a move for Casemiro, who is said to be drawn to the prospect of playing football in the United States.

Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham are among the high-profile players that have moved out to the MLS in recent years, and Casemiro, who was recently on holiday in Miami, could be the next.

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But, despite the interest from the MLS, United interim head coach Michael Carrick believes Casemiro can still play at the highest level, which could open the door for him to play against the Reds next season.

Carrick has been impressed by Casemiro since his appointed as United’s head coach, with the ex-Middlesbrough boss crediting the veteran for raising the level in training and setting an example to his team-mates.

“I’m sure he can, he’s playing as good a level as he’s played at for some time at the moment, and it’s great to see in so many ways,” Carrick said, when speaking about Casemiro still playing at the highest level.

“The experience, technically, game understanding, just composure in certain moments, he’s in a really good place.

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“I’ve got to say, Cas has been fantastic since I came really, on and off the pitch. Experience is a great thing if you use it in the right way, and again, I think over time being a senior player here is almost the responsibility of the example, and helping the younger players, helping the rest of the boys, and passing on your experiences in a positive way. He’s been top since I came, in so many ways, and he’s been a pleasure to work with.”

Casemiro has started in each of Carrick’s first five matches since returning to the United dugout. The ex-Real Madrid man has scored once and grabbed one assist in that time, with both coming in the 3-2 win against Fulham.

United head to Everton on Monday night looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in the Premier League. The Reds last tasted defeat in the top flight back on Sunday, December 21 in a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa.

They sit fifth in the Premier League table, level on points with fourth-place Chelsea and Liverpool in sixth. But the Reds will open up a three-point gap on their Champions League rivals with a crucial win at Everton.

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Marcus Rashford signing for Barcelona from Manchester United permanently this summer could depend on who wins the Catalan club’s upcoming presidential election

Barcelona preliminary presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana believes the Catalan club should consider re-signing Jan Virgili before deciding whether to make a permanent move for Marcus Rashford during this summer’s transfer window.

Rashford’s loan deal gives Barcelona an option to sign the England international for £26million. However, they also have a clause that enables them to bring Virgili back to the club a year after selling him to Mallorca.

The teenage winger has six assists for them in La Liga during his first season of senior football. Rashford, in comparison, has 10 goals and 13 assists, but is nine years Virgili’s senior.

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Vilajoana, a former Barcelona executive who was head of La Masia, brought up Virgili when discussing the possibility of signing Rashford permanently. He told ESPN: “I am someone who believes you should always look in-house first, as I’ve always said, and then look outside depending on the characteristics of the players you have.

“For example, I want to give the example of Jan Virgili, who is currently playing for Mallorca. He’s a great winger. I would maybe look at [exercising the clause to re-sign him] as an option, for example, rather than paying the Rashford clause.

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“That said, it’s not just the president who arrives and makes the decision. The president arrives, puts things on the table, alternatives are considered, it’s discussed, and a decision is made.

“What I am clear on is that if [signing Rashford] is considered to be the best decision from a sporting point of view, the money will be there to make it happen.”

Vilajoana is one of four confirmed presidential candidates for the 15 March election. Joan Laporta is standing for re-election, while Marc Ciria and Victor Font, who also stood in the last elections five years ago, are his other opponents.

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Manchester United have been tentatively linked with a move for their former midfielder and Napoli star Scott McTominay

Former Manchester United star Scott McTominay has given a clear verdict on his Napoli future amid speculation of a potential return to Old Trafford. McTominay left United in the summer of 2024 to complete a permanent move to the Serie A giants in a deal worth around £25million.

Since leaving Old Trafford, McTominay has gone on to become a key player for the Italian outfit, and played an important role in helping the club win the Serie A title last season.

McTominay scored 13 goals across all competitions last season and already has 10 to his name this term from midfield for Napoli, with Antonio Conte’s side in third place in Serie A and 14 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Amid McTominay’s ongoing impressive form for Napoli, there have been speculative reports linking the midfielder with a return to United at some point in the near future.

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United have been heavily linked with signing a new midfielder for the last few months, with that speculation intensifying after it was announced that Casemiro would be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

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Despite the rumours of a potential return to United, McTominay has issued a clear update stating that he has no plans to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

“My agent has not communicated with anyone regarding my future,” McTominay said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.

“He only speaks with me and with the club. He hasn’t said anything to the newspapers. I am extremely happy here and, as far as I am concerned, I am a Napoli player; it is all I think about.

“The future is very important, and I could see myself in Napoli for a long time.”

Rumours linking McTominay with a return to United have been tentative, with several other names mentioned more prominently on the list of players who could be under consideration for the summer transfer window.

Carlos Baleba of Brighton, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle have all been linked with switches to United over the last few weeks.

It remains to be seen what plans United will have for the summer transfer window, with there still uncertainty over who will be the club’s permanent manager with Michael Carrick in interim charge until the end of the season.

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Michael Carrick has some clear transfer plans at Manchester United if he is to assume the permanent head coach position at Old Trafford

Michael Carrick’s past comments hint he will want “better players” at Manchester United if he continues beyond the summer, but insists consistency within the current squad is key.

United have been able to string together a good run of form under the interim boss, winning four out of their last five games and drawing one. Carrick is only in place at the helm until the end of the season, but recent results have kick-started a petition to keep the former club captain as a permanent fixture in the hot seat.

The former Middlesbrough manager has been open about his desire to stay, telling BBC Sport it’s the “ultimate” dream. He said: “It’s not a stock answer – for me, it’s the ultimate role.

“I’m really enjoying it, I love what I’m doing. I’m fortunate. I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it’s not the fact that I believe I can do it and I’m here to do it.

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“I said it when I came in – there’s the sentimental side of that… of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing. But, actually, I’m here to do a job now and to make a good team and be successful.

“I don’t decide how long that’s going to be but I love being here and while I’m here, I’ll give everything I can. And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That’s how I believe it should be.”

If Carrick does stay beyond this season then United fans will be pleased to hear of the manager’s former words on transfers. During his time as a player in 2011, the 44-year-old admitted that the club deserves the best of the best on the park.

While discussing midfield replacements as he and Paul Scholes contemplated a more veteran role, Carrick said: “At a club like this there are always going to be names being bandied around. To be honest, you want the best players to be here, whether it’s in my position or not. We’ve had it over the years and I’m sure we’ll have it again.”

His position on getting the best signings for the club isn’t likely to have changed since 2011 but instead matured as he adapted to the life of a coach. In fact, while managing at Boro, Carrick was adamant that solidifying his current squad was more important than a total overhaul in the transfer window.

He said: “In an ideal world, consistency and stability is what we need to build on for success. The players need to understand where we’re going and have those connections with each other.

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“It’s not a case where you can chop and change so many numbers so often. Sometimes circumstances will dictate that has to happen, like last summer.

“It’s not always fully under our control because there are other situations going on. But certainly, consistency and stability of a squad and group of players helps you improve and helps you improve together in order to achieve success.”

Bruno Fernandes has been a talisman for Manchester United during a difficult period and he has been told to make a decision on his future despite his importance to the club

Bruno Fernandes’ importance to Manchester United in recent seasons cannot be understated. “Shut down Bruno, United won’t score!” said Ange Postecoglou of his Tottenham side’s plan in the Europa League final.

The Portugal international has been central to most positive actions on the pitch for United since he arrived at Old Trafford. It has not been enough to reestablish the club at the top of the Premier League, but no opposition coach can take on United without thinking about how to contain him.

“I knew if we shut down Bruno [Fernandes], they weren’t going to score,” Postecoglou said. “I just felt with United, the way they set up with Ruben [Amorim] and the kind of ways they would try to break us down if we were really solid defensively, as long as we scored, we had to get a goal.”

Since that devastating result, Fernandes’ future has been thrown up in the air. While the club signed figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in a bid to alleviate the pressure on Fernandes, the talisman still has 18 goal contributions this term, six more than any of his teammates.

That was not always destined to be the case. Fernandes has admitted he weighed up a move to Saudi Arabia and spoke to Al-Hilal over a potential transfer last year after United showed little determination to keep him. The star ultimately preferred to stay put despite the Saudi club being prepared to bid £100million and offer weekly wages of up to £700,000.

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Fernandes has since admitted he was saddened by United’s stance. “From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a bit,” he said.

“More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no-one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best. I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.”

But now, Fernandes has been told to consider his future once again. Former United striker Louis Saha believes it is imperative for the playmaker to be selfish.

Saha told CasinoHawks: “I think for the respect that we all have for Bruno Fernandes, I think he’s a terrific player, he has to consider his future because, looking at the strategy of INEOS, the way they think is very uncertain. It’s really difficult to anticipate.

“I can imagine a player of his stature, who has delivered as much as he has over the years, has to think about himself at some point. Those people at the top think about the club, and they think about their own position. The reality is, you can love the club as much as you want, it doesn’t matter. At some point, you have to make your own decision.

“This isn’t to say, ‘Bruno, you have to go.’ No, he has to think about his own career. It’s not only about trophies because we know 100%, I have no doubt about that, that Bruno wants to win a major trophy with Manchester United.

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“It would be his proudest moment because he really loves the club and he’s shown that with his dedication. He was disappointed because he has seen, he has heard some behaviour around his future that he didn’t like, so it’s up to him to make the decision.

“But he also has to consider staying as well if he feels that the club and the staff are really behind him, because he needs the support to go out there and be the captain we need.”

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Brighton star Carlos Baleba and the midfielder has now addressed the speculation

Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba has opened up on the impact surrounding rumours of a potential move to Manchester United had on his form during the first half of the season. United were heavily linked with signing the Seagulls midfielder last summer, as they looked to strengthen their midfield.

However, Brighton were reported to value Baleba at a fee worth around £100million, so United ended up not going on to sign the Cameroon international despite the intense speculation – and widespread reports that they had agreed personal terms with the player.

United are continuing to be linked with a move for a new midfielder, particularly after it was confirmed that Casemiro would be leaving the club this summer when his contract at Old Trafford expires.

As a result, speculation linking Baleba with a switch to United is likely to return once the summer transfer window rolls around, although it remains to be seen if any other clubs will have an interest in the midfielder.

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Baleba endured a difficult first half of the season for Brighton, but has featured in all but six Premier League matches this term, with those absences due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

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With both the summer and January transfer windows now in the past, Baleba has reflected on how the speculation surrounding his future affected him.

“I feel more relaxed now,” Baleba, 22, told Sky Sports. “The noise about me outside, I didn’t understand.

“I didn’t look on the websites. I’m more focused on me, myself and for my team-mates.”

Brighton have had a tough campaign on all fronts so far this season, with the Seagulls in 14th place in the Premier League table and just seven points above the relegation zone. Despite the struggles, Baleba is remaining positive and is focused on enjoying the remainder of the campaign.

“All my qualities, I need to improve on that,” Baleba said. “The most of the qualities I have is I need to enjoy more football, because when I play, I’m so serious that I want to do the right thing or to do the proper thing on the pitch.”

It remains to be seen what United will have planned for the summer transfer window when it comes to potential midfield reinforcements.

Baleba is not the only midfielder to be linked with a move to Old Trafford over the last 12 months, with Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace all seeing their names mentioned on the rumour mill.

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Manchester United face a big three months as they look to clinch Champions League qualification under Michael Carrick

Manchester United are currently enjoying a two-week break due to their third round exit from the FA Cup but will need to quickly get back up to speed. By the time Monday’s game at Everton rolls around, some 13 days will have passed since Benjamin Sesko secured United a point at West Ham.

That doesn’t mean we’ve been free from headlines about United, though, with much of the chatter focusing on what’s to come this summer. A decision will need to be made regarding Michael Carrick’s future as manager, with 12 matches of the season left for him to make his case even more strongly, while some transfer activity is inevitable regardless of who occupies the dugout.

United have already confirmed Casemiro won’t be at Old Trafford next season, with the Brazilian international aiming to leave on a high note. Things aren’t set in stone when it comes Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Barcelona and could well still move to Camp Nou permanently.

We have an update on another of United’s loanees, as well as a separate Barca battle. Here are our latest discussion points from around Old Trafford.

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Lausanne decision causes Kone concern

The winter transfer window wasn’t the busiest for Manchester United but it did see Sekou Kone loaned out to Lausanne-Sport in early February. However, the Malian midfielder’s move hasn’t quite gone according to plan – at least not for his first few weeks in Switzerland.

Kone made his debut coming off the bench against Thun in a league defeat. However, he has remained an unused substitute in Lausanne’s other two February fixtures, and has now been left out of the club’s Conference League squad.

United highlighted possible European involvement as justification for loaning Kone to Switzerland. Now, according to The Mail, the latest development has caused concern

Lausanne secured ninth position in the Conference League table before Christmas, suffering just one defeat in their six league phase fixtures. This means they’re seeded for the play-off round, where they face Czech outfit Sigma Olomouc.

Double battle with Barca

Manchester United could see their transfer plans derailed by Barcelona not once but twice, according to reports from Germany. Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson is one of two reported United targets also eyed by the Catalan club, as well as young German midfielder Kennert Eichhorn.

According to BILD (via Sport Witness), Eichhorn has attracted attention from several major clubs with his performances for Hertha Berlin. Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have been mentioned as possible destinations, along with Barcelona, Real Madrid and United.

The wonderkid only celebrated his 16th birthday in July but established himself in Hertha’s first team before sustaining an ankle injury which has sidelined him for the last three matches. He has featured in 12 of his side’s 2. Bundesliga games this season as Stefan Leitl’s team occupy sixth place in the standings.

The defensive midfielder reportedly has a release clause around £10million. It’s anticipated that he will make a move this summer, even if Hertha manage to secure promotion back to the top tier.

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Man United might have another area they need to strengthen in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United will be desperate to avoid adding to their summer to-do list. The Reds, of course, need to appoint a permanent head coach, having only hired Michael Carrick until the end of the season.

Carrick could still become the permanent head coach, but the Reds’ performance in what is left of the Premier League season will decide whether he is in the running or not. Even if he leads United back into the Champions League, the club could still decide to look elsewhere. Once a permanent head coach is appointed, attention will turn to the transfer market.

Casemiro is on the way out of the club and so a new defensive midfielder is needed. United were quoted £100m for Carlos Baleba last summer and they might have to shell out a similar fee if they are to sign a player capable of filling the hole left by Casemiro.

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The World Cup will only complicate matters further, so already the summer is looking challenging. The last thing United will want is another spanner thrown into the works.

Harry Maguire has had a turbulent career at United. He has been unfairly ridiculed at times and was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag. Looking back, that decision has arguably been the best thing to have happened to him at Old Trafford.

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Maguire has turned a corner without the armband and he is now a key part of the defence alongside Lisandro Martinez. Regardless of his improved form, United know they cannot keep Maguire, 32, on the contract he is currently on.

Negotiations are understood to be underway with Maguire to keep him at Old Trafford. There is the option to extend his current deal by a further year, but United are keen to reduce his wages and so an agreement needs to be reached if he is to stay at the club. If an agreement isn’t reached, United could be forced to hunt for a replacement.

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Leny Yoro enjoyed a solid start to his United career but has struggled of late. A solid cameo against West Ham left Carrick delighted as he took time to praise him in his post-match press conference, but the Frenchman clearly still needs time to settle in Manchester. Ayden Heaven is still adapting to senior football and should be given the time to develop away from the spotlight of regular first-team action. Matthijs de Ligt has not played since November and it’s still unclear when he will be ready to return. Suddenly, tying Maguire down to a new deal looks to be a key task for United.

United have plenty of issues that need addressing this summer. They could do without adding another to the list and keeping hold of Maguire would be sensible business.

One of Cole Palmer’s friends has vowed to get the Chelsea star to Manchester United and claims he ‘belongs’ at Old Trafford.

Palmer, a United fan growing up, joined Chelsea in a £40m deal from Manchester City in 2023.

Despite supporting the Red Devils, it was the blue half of Manchester who poached Palmer at the age of eight and took him through the club’s academy to the first-team.

But Palmer only made 19 Premier League appearances for Man City before selling him to Chelsea, where he has become one of the biggest stars in world football.

Palmer enjoyed a sensational first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 27 goals and making 15 assists – the most of any player in the Premier League.

England caps soon followed – Palmer scored in England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain – and he was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Palmer was slightly less effective last season but still scored 18 goals in all competitions to help the Blues qualify for the Champions League, win the Europa Conference League and then lift the Club World Cup trophy.

The 23-year-old struggled with form and fitness earlier in the current season and reports claimed Palmer was missing Manchester.

It was even suggested Palmer would be ‘open’ to joining his beloved Manchester United, with a return to Man City out of the equation, especially while Pep Guardiola is still in charge.

Chelsea tried to dismiss speculation Palmer could leave the club, insisting he is one of three ‘untouchable’ members of Liam Rosenior’s squad.

But Palmer has continued to be linked with a move and one of his friends has made it his mission to get him to Manchester United.

Manchester-based rapper Tunde spent some time with Palmer during his holiday to Dubai this week as some Chelsea players were given time off ahead of the business end of the season.

Tunde uploaded two pictures of him and Palmer together with the Instagram caption: ‘Bro from early.

‘1 day I will get CP to UTD back home where he belongs. Go ask him who his favourite team is.’

Following a frustrating start to the season, Palmer has looked back to his best in recent weeks, scoring a first-half hat-trick against Wolves.

Asked about Palmer’s future at Stamford Bridge last month, new Chelsea boss Rosenior said: ‘Is he untouchable, is he happy? Yes and yes.

‘It’s simple, Cole Palmer is an incredible player like many players in the group. Cole is here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.

‘Cole is very happy. I’ve had numerous conversations with him. Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him.

‘He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player.’

Former Chelsea captain Ruud Gullit certainly hopes Palmer stays put, telling Gambling Insider earlier this week: ‘I don’t know what’s going on with Cole Palmer. Nobody seems to know.

‘If he continues to be in and out of the Chelsea team, then that suggests that something is going on behind the scenes and it’s not just his fitness issues.

‘It’s possible that he’s still a little bit injured and that’s affecting his form, but only Liam Rosenior and the medical staff know the true story.

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‘We haven’t heard Cole’s side of the story yet, so we’re in the dark with what’s going on with him.

‘I really hope he doesn’t leave Chelsea in the summer – I want him to have his chance to win big trophies at Stamford Bridge.

‘We can only speculate at the moment, so let’s see what happens between now and the end of the season.’

But there are those who would like Palmer to be on the move, with Louis Saha insisting he would be a brilliant signing for his former club Manchester United.

‘It would be incredibly exciting to see Cole Palmer at Manchester United,’ Saha told CasinoHawks. ‘He is just a terrific player.

‘If he does think about going back to Manchester again, I’m sure that he’s going to be exciting for United fans.’

For now, Palmer will hope to help Chelsea finish in the top-four – they arefifth with 12 games remaining – and enjoy a deep run in the Champions League.

Chelsea, who thumped Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup last time out, return to Premier League action on Saturday against Burnley.

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Julian Alvarez is wanted by Manchester United and Barcelona with Atletico Madrid demanding close to £100m and Marcus Rashford could be key in him moving to Old Trafford

Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, and a move for the Argentina international could play a massive role in Marcus Rashford’s future. Alvarez moved to Atletico in 2024 in a deal worth over £80million.

Since the switch, the 26-year-old has scored 41 goals in 91 games, and his form for Diego Simeone’s men has attracted interest from the Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea are both said to be keen on signing Alvarez.

Before moving to Spain, the striker played 103 times for Manchester City and was a key part of Pep Guardiola’s team that won the treble in 2023.

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Despite spending big on centre-forwards last summer in Viktor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, both London clubs are being linked with a new striker in the summer transfer window. However, Spanish outlet Sport has reported that United have joined the race to bring Alvarez back to Manchester.

After splashing over £74m on Benjamin Sesko last summer, United aren’t expected to rule out a new striker with Joshua Zirkzee tipped with a move away and Rasmus Hojlund unlikely to be offered a lifeline.

The sticking point for United is that Alvarez’s preferred destination is reportedly Barcelona should he leave Atletico Madrid. Reports in Spain have suggested that a deal between the two La Liga rivals is seen as ‘extremely complicated’, with Alvarez’s current club believed to be demanding around £100m.

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While Atletico are keen on offering Alvarez on a new contract, United could make a huge statement by taking pole position. Michael Carrick has used Bryan Mbeumo as his first-choice striker in his first five games in charge, with Sesko proving to be a valuable player off the bench.

Mbeumo’s natural position is on the right, and having an elite striker who can play with the ball and link up would be instrumental. Fortunately, United have an advantage over Barcelona, and it could help them ship Rashford.

The forward has been excellent on loan at the Nou Camp, scoring 10 goals and assisting 13 so far. Barcelona have an option to sign him permanently for £26m, with it widely expected that they will trigger the clause at the end of the season.

The financial issues at Barca have been a recurring problem for them in the transfer market, making a move for Alvarez at nearly £100m difficult. With Champions League football hopefully returning to Old Trafford, United will be in a better position to meet Atleti’s asking price.

Rashford’s impressive campaign at Barcelona means Hansi Flick’s men will be planning for the 2026/27 season with the England international. His arrival, should all go ahead as planned, will deplete Barca’s available budget and drastically reduce their chances of landing Alvarez.

Chelsea and Arsenal are another kettle of fish. But with United back in the Champions League and a clear position for Alvarez to slot into at Old Trafford, it could be the golden ticket in his arrival.