Coming live from Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United makes move to sign Manchester city star as club still in search of Casemiro replacement. According to reports from Footballwave, one of Manchester United’s alternative is man city star who is seen as a better option to casemiro. The Manchester city star who is valued at £45m by Transfermarket, had 8 goals and 9 assists in 34 appearances in the Premier League in 2023-24. As United are looking to replace Casemiro and acquire a new midfield partner for Mainoo, this could be a perfect addition. Man Utd looking at £45m “box-crasher” to replace Casemiro.

Manchester United has showcased their ambition in the transfer market this summer under INEOS ownership by acquiring the highly-rated defender Leny Yoro from Lille and striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.

Following a lackluster 2023/24 Premier League campaign that saw them finish eighth, United managed to redeem their season by clinching the FA Cup, overcoming Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley with first-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. This FA Cup triumph earned them a spot in next season’s Europa League. However, with significant investment, the club is targeting a return to the Champions League for the 2025/26 season.

Recent reports from Football Transfers indicate that Manchester United is eyeing PSV Eindhoven’s Joey Veerman as a potential alternative to PSG’s Manuel Ugarte. To facilitate this move, the club is reportedly open to selling Scott McTominay, seeking £40 million for the Scotland international. Veerman, valued at £34 million by Transfermarkt, had a standout season with PSV, making 41 appearances, scoring seven goals, providing 19 assists, and accumulating 3,420 minutes on the pitch.

Veerman’s style of play is often likened to Manchester City’s Rodri, according to FBref’s “similar players” tool. As United looks to replace Casemiro and find a new midfield partner for Mainoo, Veerman could be a strong candidate. His technical proficiency, defensive screening, ability to disrupt opposition counterattacks, and game control make him a promising addition.

A comparison of Veerman, Rodri, and Casemiro’s stats per 90 minutes highlights Veerman’s strengths:
– Non-Penalty Goals: Veerman (0.19), Rodri (0.22), Casemiro (0.13)
– Shots Total: Veerman (2.19), Rodri (1.84), Casemiro (1.84)
– Assists: Veerman (0.60), Rodri (0.27), Casemiro (0.08)
– Shot-Creating Actions: Veerman (9.48), Rodri (5.06), Casemiro (1.93)
– Passes Attempted: Veerman (83.99), Rodri (113.85), Casemiro (63.69)
– Progressive Passes: Veerman (11.86), Rodri (12.28), Casemiro (5.15)
– Progressive Carries: Veerman (1.96), Rodri (2.85), Casemiro (0.54)
– Key Passes: Veerman (4.91), Rodri (1.61), Casemiro (0.71)
– Tackles: Veerman (2.57), Rodri (2.08), Casemiro (3.73)
– Aerials Won: Veerman (1.17), Rodri (1.46), Casemiro (1.76)

Analyst Ben Mattinson describes Veerman as a “box crasher,” highlighting his diverse skill set beyond goal-scoring. Veerman’s creative passing, with 4.91 key passes and 11.86 progressive passes per 90 minutes, is comparable to Rodri’s 12.28 progressive passes per 90, underscoring his potential to control the game from a deeper role. This ability was evident in his performances for the Netherlands during Euro 2024.

Incorporating Veerman’s technical attributes, passing range, and ball-carrying skills into United’s midfield could enhance their build-up play and allow Mainoo to advance into more attacking positions. Additionally, Veerman’s defensive contributions, including 2.57 tackles, 1.13 blocks, and 1.17 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, are notable and position him as a strong alternative to Casemiro, who is showing signs of age-related decline.

Overall, signing Joey Veerman could significantly bolster Manchester United’s midfield with the technical security, creativity, and defensive capabilities necessary to support their goal of returning to the Champions League.