Today’s rumours have a northern feel
Casemiro’s decision to leave Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the season will intensify the club’s search for a midfielder. The Brazilian’s exit will also knock £350k-a-week off their outgoings which should bring a smile to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as United look to follow up last week’s derby win when they travel to … oh … Arsenal this weekend.
Not exactly like for like but stories are circulating that Wythenshawe lad Cole Palmer is homesick at Chelsea and pondering a return to Manchester this summer. The twist is that he wouldn’t be heading back to City as Palmer prefers the red of United – the club he, wait for it, supported as a boy. United scouts were also reportedly in Spain last weekend to discuss on-loan Marcus Rashford’s future and check out Real Sociedad’s versatile midfielder/forward Mikel Oyarzabal. Fun fact: both Palmer (equaliser) and Oyarzabal (winner) scored in the final of Euro 2024.
Casemiro’s departure is likely to make Kobbie Mainoo’s contract situation take on greater urgency. Totally out of favour under Ruben Amorim, the 20-year-old (he’s still only 20!) made his first Premier League start of the season against Manchester City last weekend and is clearly part of interim boss Michael Carrick’s plans. Mainoo has 18 months left on his current deal and was previously linked with Napoli and other top clubs abroad while he twiddled his thumbs on the bench. The Stockport lad is reportedly on around £20-30,000 per week so would need a serious hike in wages and that’s a potential stumbling block.
