Casemiro replacement: Manchester United have made stunning bid to land £34m “box-crasher” who is technically better than Rodri to replace Casemiro before league starts

This summer, Manchester United has already demonstrated its ambition in the transfer market as their new owners, INEOS, have demonstrated their financial might by acquiring Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and highly-rated defender Leny Yoro from Lille.

United’s 2023–24 Premier League campaign ended in disappointment as they finished ninth. However, their season was salvaged with an FA Cup victory, defeating Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo in the first half.

This FA Cup victory qualified United for the Europa League and preserved their chances of competing in Europe the following season. But the goal will be to return to the Champions League for the 2025–2026 season despite the significant investment.

most recent Manchester United transfer rumours
PSV Eindhoven star Joey Veerman is reportedly one of Manchester United’s alternate possibilities for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to sources from Football Transfers.

According to reports, Scott McTominay is the midfield player who United is most likely to give up in order to seek a signing in this part of the pitch. The Scotland international is reportedly demanding for £40 million from the Red Devils.

Veerman, who Transfermarkt values at £34 million, made 41 appearances for PSV across all competitions in the previous season, racking up 3,420 minutes of playtime, seven goals, and nineteen assists.

Comparison of Rodri and Veerman
Veerman’s top ten comparisons from Euro 2024 using FBref’s “similar players” function include none other than Rodri, the outstanding midfielder for Manchester City. This would be the ideal addition for United, who are trying to find a new midfield partner for Mainoo in place of Casemiro.

Veerman might be the perfect partner to help Mainoo advance if he could provide the same technical security on the ball that Rodri does for City, in addition to successfully screening the defenders, stopping opposition counterattacks, and managing the game’s general tempo.

The 26-year-old has exceptional creative passing figures, averaging 4.91 key passes and 11.86 progressive passes per 90. For comparison, Rodri, who is considered to be among the greatest in the world, makes 12.28 progressive passes per 90. Why is Rodri leading by so much? Indeed, City is among the teams on the continent with the highest possession.

If the ball is carried into the penalty area or advanced at least ten yards in the direction of the opponent’s goal, it is deemed a progressive carry.

He can control the game from a deeper part of the pitch because to his technical ball security and high pass volume—attempting 20 more passes per 90 than Casemiro—which reminded us of Veerman’s play for the Netherlands in the 2024 Euros.

Mainoo would be able to roam higher up between the lines and into more dangerous areas, while United would benefit from the additional technical skills, variation in passing, and ball handling from midfield.

It’s not like Veerman lacks defensive skill either; he makes 2.57 tackles per 90, 1.13 blocks per 90, and wins 1.17 aerials per 90. These are comparable figures to Rodri’s and still quite near to Casemiro’s, who is losing ground and becoming older faster than ever in this area.