Manchester United reportedly in talks with representatives of Juventus captain, Manuel Locatelli, over a potential summer move to Old Trafford. This comes as part of the Red Devils' strategy to rebuild their central midfield following the announcement that Casemiro will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
The departure of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has heightened Manchester United's need for reinforcement in their central midfield. Currently, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are the senior players available for selection in that position. Mason Mount is another potential option. According to The Touchline, Manchester United officials have initiated contact with Locatelli's team regarding a possible transfer. At 28 years old and with extensive experience under his belt, including 214 appearances for Juventus and 63 for AC Milan, he is seen as an ideal replacement for Casemiro.
Locatelli's leadership skills are also highly valued by Man Utd; he currently serves as captain at Juventus. Despite being primarily a defensive midfielder, his record shows he can contribute significantly in attack too - boasting 14 goals and 24 assists from his time playing top-flight football in Italy.
Keeping key players happy
While there may be uncertainty surrounding Manuel Ugarte's future at Old Trafford this summer, both Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo are expected to retain their starting positions next season. This makes it intriguing who else Man Utd might target to maintain balance within their squad while keeping key players satisfied.
Locatelli offers more experience than other names linked with a move to Old Trafford but lacks Premier League experience – an increasingly important factor considered by Man Utd’s recruitment team. Other notable midfielders linked with a move to Manchester United include Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. According to The Athletic, Anderson is currently the Red Devils' top midfield target.
As the summer transfer window approaches, it will be interesting to see how these potential moves develop and where Locatelli fits into Manchester United's plans should they decide to proceed with their enquiry.
