Had Manchester United did not beat Chelsea on Saturday night, had they did not capitalise on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute crimson card underneath the Outdated Trafford lights, Ruben Amorim might need reached a degree of no return.
A minimum of, the Portuguese tactician would have slid deeper into the pit which threatens to engulf him, having laboured to a woeful Fifteenth-placed Premier League end final yr, dropping the Europa League last to Tottenham Hotspur and enduring extra inconsistency throughout the opening weeks of the season.
Amorim is underneath no illusions in regards to the scale of the duty nonetheless forward of him, however he’s decided to make it work at The Theatre of Goals, and, with Bruno Fernandes nonetheless main the ranks from the centre circle, there is a perception that the membership will rise once more.
The importance of Bruno Fernandes
Had Man United did not beat Chelsea, tensions would have boiled over. They did not, with the Crimson Devils scoring a hard-fought, well-deserved victory, lifting them to ninth within the standings.
Fernandes bought the ball rolling, handing over from shut vary following Patrick Dorgu’s highly effective header. He continued to offer United with a presence throughout attacking and defensive phases, so passionate and rousing from the center of the park.
Due to information supplied by Sofascore, we will observe that the Portugal worldwide, 31, additionally gained 4 duels and two tackles throughout his 87 minutes, changed late on by Kobbie Mainoo.
He is perhaps getting on a bit, however Bruno continues to be the main pressure on this facet, and that is unlikely to alter any time quickly. If United are to rise as soon as once more, he’ll kind the nucleus of the resurgence.
Nonetheless, it is price noting that Fernandes has entered the penultimate yr of his £300k-per-week contract, and whereas INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe would love nothing greater than a renewal, that may show tough, for Fernandes will need to stay among the many highest earners.
Surprisingly, the Iberian playmaker is not really the highest earner on the membership. Certainly, the person above him is a controversial primary, and it might be that he must be bought in 2026.
Man United should promote their high earner
Casemiro’s Manchester United contract expires on the finish of the present marketing campaign, although the membership have the choice to increase the veteran’s keep for an extra yr.
Curiously, the 33-year-old has loved one thing of a revival underneath Amorim’s wing. “Depart the soccer earlier than the soccer leaves you,” Jamie Carragher notoriously mentioned of the Brazilian in 2024, however Casemiro has bounced again, offering an anchoring presence within the centre.
However it’s imperfect, there is not any doubt about that. Having signed for the Crimson Devils from Actual Madrid for a whopping £70m price in August 2022, Casemiro has performed 130 matches for the membership, scoring 18 objectives and successful the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
This season, he has began 4 of his facet’s 5 Premier League fixtures up to now, watching from the bench as Pep Guardiola’s facet gave their neighbours a hiding within the Manchester derby.
Casemiro scored what proved to be the successful objective through the latest win over Chelsea, however it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as he bought himself despatched off earlier than the interval at hand the Blues a lifeline in a match they have been struggling to seek out room to breathe in.
Maybe he was unlucky to have been proven a second yellow for hacking down Andrey Santos, however the reality stays there’s a rash streak in regards to the South American, who has now been dismissed 3 times within the Premier League.
United must signal a brand new quantity six, and no mistake. Casemiro continues to be able to placing in a “monster shift”, as has been mentioned by Statman Dave, however there’s lots to not like there too.
Man United – Prime Earners | ||
|---|---|---|
Participant | Con. Expiry | Wage |
Casemiro | 2026 | £350k-per-week |
Bruno Fernandes | 2027 | £300k-per-week |
Mathhjis de Ligt | 2029 | £195k-per-week |
Harry Maguire | 2026 | £190k-per-week |
Matheus Cunha | 2030 | £180k-per-week |
Information through Capology | ||
Final winter, for instance, AS Roma had proven an curiosity in signing Casemiro, however the curiosity finally got here to nought. Nonetheless, it underlines the abiding curiosity in some of the completed midfielders of his technology, and is one thing INEOS should contemplate within the forthcoming January window.
Certainly, if Amorim really desires his venture to hit the heights he would have envisaged upon signing the contract, he would do effectively to tell the board that he desires Casemiro gone, maybe then accelerating a bid for Carlos Baleba, with the Brighton & Hove Albion expertise of a vested curiosity to the Devils through the summer time, who had been keen to pay a determine within the area of £100m for him, however for the Seafulls to take care of an unwillingness to do enterprise.
So be it. However Baleba’s head was turned by the considered a transfer to Manchester, and the membership’s curiosity is not going to have gone away, merely been shelved till the time comes once they can strike once more.
Certainly, it is already been recommended that United are getting ready a January transfer for the Cameroonian prospect, who, aged solely 21, has already established himself as one of many Premier League’s most fun abilities. It is felt {that a} determine near that which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo – £115m – would must be forked out, so recouping funds from the wage invoice would ease the fee after which some.
Ought to Casemiro be bought – for what would inevitably be a small price – Man United’s wage invoice would certainly scale back dramatically, after which a concerted switch assault on the south coast could possibly be mounted.
Casemiro and Fernandes celebrated collectively when the Brazilian put paid to Chelsea’s resistance and made it two-nil earlier than 40 minutes at Outdated Trafford.
He nonetheless presents one thing, the 33-year-old, however Man United wished to spend massive on a brand new holding midfielder this summer time, and are anticipated to go once more in 2026.
Given the staggering pay packet Casemiro takes house every month, is there actually any justification for his persevering with presence in Amorim’s squad?
