Michael Carrick has enginereed a remarkable turnaround in fortunates for Manchester United. They have already defeated Manchester City and Arsenal and are now in the middle of a four game run where they have not dropped a single point.
While Old Trafford has a sense of rejuvenation to it, there simply have to be frustrations at how they have wasted the last year of the club’s existence.
Ruben Amorim’s time in the dugout was a messy affair and since he has been relieved of his duties, this great football club are getting back to a space where they can challenge again.
2026 is set to be an important year for the Red Devils. While they did not spend in the winter, they are set to go big in the summer. Whether or not Carrick will still be in charge, however, remains to be seen.
What the summer transfer window has in store for Man Utd
With Casemiro having confirmed that he will be leaving Manchester behind in the summer, the importance of signing one or two midfielders in the next window has only been elevated.
All season long, United have been linked with the likes of Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson but the pair of them would cost an absolute fortune to obtain.
INEOS are ready to spend but before that, they will need to decide on a new manager. What happens in the remaining months of the season could also dictate whether they are an attractive proposition for any suitors. Securing Champions League football would certainly help.
What would also help is the acquisition of a new centre-back. Like Casemiro, Harry Maguire is out of contract at the end of the season but his future is yet to be decided.
An ideal replacement for the English defender could well be Eder Militao at Real Madrid. Reports from Spain this weekend suggest that not only are Man United interested in signing the Brazilian but they have already lodged an opening bid to bring him to English football.
The report notes that an offer of £35m has been submitted for his services and Real are now mulling over what to do with that bid. It’s said that the Madrid board are sitting down together to discuss the terms of any possible Militao offer.
While no decision has been made, the Spanish side are said to be in no rush to sell just yet.
Why Militao could be Man Utd’s next Casemiro
Casemiro’s revival in the north west has been nothing short of remarkable. Under Erik ten Hag, he looked finished as an elite footballer with Jamie Carragher notably telling him to “leave the football, before the football leaves you”. He should be in Saudi was the cry.
Well, the defensive midfielder has proven a lot of people wrong and, alongside Bruno Fernandes, has been the club’s most important player in 2025/26.
While he may not be able to play 90 minutes on many occasions, his experience and leadership are key from the middle of the park. He’s even popping up with regular goal involvements, scoring five goals and registering two assists in 23 league outings.
Signed from Madrid, he was widely renowned as one of the best holding midfielders in the world when he joined and while he may not have looked like it at times in England, he is now showcasing why he’s held in such high regard.
Militao is very much from a similar cloth. Not only is he Brazilian like Casemiro and not only would he be joining from Madrid, but he possesses a similar warrior-like attitude and would be arriving with a massive reputation.
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Eder Militao – major honours |
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x1 Copa America |
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x2 Champions League |
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x3 LaLiga |
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x2 UEFA Super Cup |
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x1 Club World Cup |
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x1 Spanish Cup |
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x2 Spanish Super Cup |
The centre-back has struggled with injury in recent years and is currently absent from the squad with a muscle problem, but he has been a major player at the Bernabeu throughout the years, hailed by Carlo Ancelotti as the “best centre-back in the world.” There is no better praise than that.
While Man United can no longer be all about signing global superstars, providing Militao can stay fit he would be an exceptional capture, particularly if they are to lose the experience of Maguire. Imagine what a fine mentor he would be for the likes of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
While providing leadership and great experience of the game, he’d also be an improvement on what United currently have at the back with former Porto manager Sergio Conceicao recognising him as a “monster physically.”
Similarly to Casemiro, he’s a brute in central areas and judging by all of these qualities, he could help take the Red Devils to the next level, much like his international colleague has done in 2025/26.
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