Manchester United fans will be dreading tomorrow night's game against Liverpool.
Their start to the season has been disastrous, and while you would expect a reaction again their biggest rivals in normal circumstances, the meetings between the sides last season will hardly fill them confidence. Jurgen Klopp's side would win 5-0 and 4-0 in the games in the 2021/22 campaign, results that could be replicated if United do not improve on this occasion.
Erik ten Hag has inherited a mess of a squad, one that has not been drastically improved so far in this transfer window. The club are hoping to bring in a few more players before the end of the month, with one signing very close to completion.
Casemiro is set to join from Real Madrid in a deal worth up to £70million. The Brazilian is an excellent footballer, although questions remain over his fit at Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney questions Manchester United signing Casemiro
At 30-years old, Casemiro is not the type of signing that many assumed the club would be making this summer. The project under Erik ten Hag was meant to be a long-term one, meaning young players would be the priority.
Writing in his column for The Times, Wayne Rooney said he feels the signing of the Real Madrid player wreaks of panic from his former club.
Casemiro, United’s new signing, will not be eligible to face Liverpool, which is a pity because he will undoubtedly improve United. He’s a good player. I’ve played against him and he’ll bring a bit of character, a bit of work rate, but is he exactly what United need? I’m not sure.
This goes back to the need to look to the future. Ideally, they should be signing players in their early to mid-twenties, and Casemiro is similar to Christian Eriksen — someone who has been a good player, but are they going to help the club move forward? Frenkie de Jong, Ten Hag’s principal midfield target, would be a better fit.
The Casemiro deal seems to have come from nowhere, and looks a reactive signing — I’d be surprised if he was a player identified as a priority to bring in when Ten Hag arrived. It looks like, having been unable to sign De Jong, United just reacted to Casemiro being available.
Manchester United are miles away from competing at the top of the Premier League, meaning signing players already in their 30s is a risky business. Casemiro is expected to earn in the region of £350,000 per week during his time at Old Trafford.
Considering how late in the window they made this move, the transfer does seem to be a bit of a panic move. It could yet work out for United, but their recent record in the transfer market would hardly fill you with confidence that this will be the case.
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