Casemiro is set to join Manchester United from Real Madrid on a five-year deal,

Manchester United are set to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid on a five-year contract, making him their fourth signing of the summer. However, Erik ten Hag must keep bolstering his midfield.

Prior to Septem1, Erik ten Hag will be eager to expand his midfield.

Erik ten Hag will be eager to bolster his midfield before September 1 (Manchester United appear to have secured their target with a deal to sign Casemiro; they must now focus on acquiring a No. 8).

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti announced the seasoned defensive midfielder’s departure from the team to join the Red Devils in a deal estimated to cost £60 million. In order to close the deal with two weeks left in the window, United representatives have already met with Madrid executives in the Spanish capital.

As Ancelotti stated to the media on Friday: “Although Casemiro is leaving, we have plenty of options for his replacement. Casemiro has made the decision to take on a new challenge, so there is no going back. We want to send him our best wishes.”

With the addition of the Brazilian international as their new No. 6, United must now consider adding a box-to-box midfielder, akin to Frenkie de Jong, though it is unlikely that he will leave Barcelona this summer.

De Jong has long been United’s top target, but the deal is dragging on and a replacement is still required because Erik ten Hag is still reportedly looking to add another midfielder to his squad. Ten Hag will use a 4-3-3 formation and will need a strong No. 8 to motivate his midfield since Scott McTominay and Fred both flatter to deceive.

Christian Eriksen can play there, but historically, he has excelled as a No. 10, so Ten Hag might be better off portraying the Dane in that position. At Tottenham Hotspur, the 30-year-old made an impression behind Harry Kane and was given freedom to roam and create opportunities.

To get the most out of the former Brentford player and fellow attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, signing Casemiro and another box-to-box midfielder may be essential. Destructive midfielder Moussa Dembele gave Eriksen more freedom in his position, though.

If a deal for De Jong cannot be finalized, United still has access to a number of midfielders who would be an improvement over both Fred and McTominay. Pascal Gross of Brighton performed well against them on the first day, and Youri Tielemans of Leicester may be the best acquisition at the moment.

The Belgian, who has one year left on his contract, is available for about £25 million, which is a fraction of what they would have to pay if he had more time left on his deal. He is a top-tier midfielder with the ability to play at the highest level thanks to his exceptional passing ability and in-game awareness.

It is believed that the 25-year-old has no plans to extend his contract at Leicester, and Arsenal is closely monitoring his development in anticipation of possibly reaching an agreement to sign the player. But United ought to hurry and sign Tielemans, who scored the game-winning goal for the Foxes against Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final. He has made 160 appearances overall, scoring 24 goals, and assisted Leicester to back-to-back Premier League finishes.

Another player whose name has been mentioned in connection with United is Ruben Neves. Like Tielemans, Neves is a natural ball-progressor and a prolific passer. In addition to keeping the game moving smoothly in midfield, he can also set up attacks by spraying a 40-yard diagonal out to the wingers. It is what has made him so sought-after, despite the fact that he is now anticipated to sign a new contract at Wolves following the arrival of Matheus Nunes.

But for the Red Devils’ midfield to function properly, they need someone of that caliber and quality. However, with games coming thick and fast and United without a point in the Premier League with Liverpool up next, Ten Hag must address that issue quickly.