Man Utd told to sign £34m Casemiro replacement for second time – ‘He could fit’

Manchester United are still in search of a proven No. 9 ahead of the new season, but a former first-team coach believes they could do with a midfield reinforcement too

Rene Meulensteen believes that Conor Gallagher would be a perfect fit for Manchester United, especially given Casemiro’s age. The Brazilian midfielder, who joined the Red Devils in a £70million move from Real Madrid in 2022, has shined at times at Old Trafford.

However, at 33 years old, there are questions pertaining to his suitability to Ruben Amorim’s demanding and fast-paced style of play, with his future in the north west being cast into question at the end of last season. Despite being linked to a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer with just a year left on his current deal in Manchester, Casemiro has ultimately decided to stay put.

But Meulensteen believes that United should still be looking for a replacement ahead of his deal running down next summer, picking out Atletico Madrid star Gallagher as the ideal candidate. Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, the former United first-team coach said: “Conor Gallagher would bring bags of energy to Manchester United, that is something they have been lacking in the middle of the park.

“There is Manuel Ugarte there, but I don’t think he has the best legs in terms of covering distances. We don’t know what is happening with Casemiro, if he will still be part of the squad after playing more games than expected last year. I thought Gallagher was very good for Chelsea, he’s a hardworking boy who covers the ground quickly, he’s tenacious, he is someone that could fit in.”

It’s not the first time that United have been urged to sign the 25-year-old England international either, with Gordon Strachan also highlighting Gallagher as a suitable player at Old Trafford earlier this month. In conversation with OLBG, the 68-year-old said: “Man United don’t need a bit more bite, they need legs, real legs, real closing down.

“Can Conor Gallagher do that? Yes he can, he’s definitely got legs, he’s a good team-mate. Has he got enough imagination? I don’t know, but if you have people like that with legs in there and have imagination around them, then he’d be a good signing.

“The days of the luxury player, if you want to be a top side, are gone. So, Conor Gallagher has definitely got the legs. He’s got the robustness. Has he got goals? Has he got that flair?

“These players are hard to come by. Would I take him compared to some of the players that have played over the last couple of years at Man United? Yes, I would.”

After breaking through the youth academy of Chelsea in 2019, Gallagher spent five years with the Blues, albeit, the majority of his tenure was spent on loan with the likes of Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace. A £34m move to Atletico Madrid then ensued last summer, with Gallagher thriving in La Liga with Los Rojiblancos.

In his maiden season, Gallagher scored four goals and provided six assists in 50 outings and was imperative to Atleti’s third-place finish in La Liga. Amorim is currently focusing on securing a proven No. 9 for United ahead of next season, with Ollie Watkins at the top of his list.

While Aston Villa have said that their talisman is not for sale this summer, they valued Watkins at £60m in January, and it is thought that the Red Devils will try to broker a deal for around £45m. However, if they are unsuccessful, they may opt to continue their pursuit of 22-year-old RB Leipzig star, Benjamin Sesko, given they are thought to hold a pole position over Newcastle United in securing the striker – who is also valued at around £60m – this summer.

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