Man Utd targeting FOUR major signings in new manager’s first transfer window with key players on the way out

MANCHESTER UNITED want to sign two midfielders to offset the impending departure of Casemiro.

United are also targeting a left-sided option and are exploring potential centre back recruits if they do not agree a new deal with Harry Maguire.

Maguire’s contract runs out in June and there are ongoing discussions over a renewal.

Casemiro announced in January that he will leave United when his contract expires in the summer.

United have been monitoring Premier League players to strengthen their midfield and club officials are in agreement that they need to recruit two players in that area.

Casemiro, 34, is one of only three specialist central midfielders, along with Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.

United have shortlisted Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United and are also interested in Premier League quartet Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott.

Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton, 22, wants to join a Champions League club and United are third in the Premier League table with eight games to play.

Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign Nottingham Forest talisman Anderson, 23, and sources doubt whether United would compete with their neighbours to match the England international’s salary demand.

United enquired about Baleba in the summer but the 22-year-old has endured a poor season with Brighton and was not in the squad for their 1-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday.

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Baleba travelled to Wearside but Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler said he “wasn’t 100 per cent ready”.

Scott, also 22, has been an ever-present in the Bournemouth midfield this term and was named in Thomas Tuchel’s last England squad.

United fans sang “One more year, Casemiro” after the Brazilian scored his seventh goal of the campaign in the 3-1 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday.

But head coach Michael Carrick all but dismissed the prospect of a U-turn from either player or club.

He said: “The fact that it was decided makes things a little bit easier and everyone understands the situation, really.

“The impact he has had has been terrific, certainly, since I’ve been here and working with him. And he’s influence within the team and big moments and goals. 

“Players come and go. Some are bigger, some are maybe more important than others at different times. 

“But I don’t think it’s ever really about replacing like for like. I think you can go in different directions. 

“You understand what the balance of the squad will need, whether that’s on the pitch, off the pitch, leadership, positionally. There’s all sorts of different things going into it. 

“Case has done some really, really good things, and certainly since I’ve been here, he’s been an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Maguire, 33, is approaching the final three months of his deal but has started in all nine of Carrick’s matches in charge.

The £80million defender could be in line for a recall to the England squad later this week after an 18-month absence from the international fold.

United have spent £276.58m on central defenders since and including the arrival of Maguire in 2019.

However, Maguire has had injury issues in the past two years, Matthijs de Ligt has not played since November 30 due to a back problem and Lisandro Martinez is sidelined again with a calf problem.

Martinez is into his fourth season with United but he has only played 106 times and 45 of those appearances were in his first campaign.

The 28-year-old has missed 90 United matches through injury, having sustained metatarsal, knee, calf and cruciate ligament injuries.

Now that United play with a back four and wingers, they are devoid of a natural left-sided option.

Patrick Dorgu was thriving in a more advanced role before he succumbed to injury at Arsenal on January 25 and Matheus Cunha has started the past seven games on the left.

Dorgu is a left back by trade but if United rebrand him as a winger then they could instead invest in a new specialist left back.

Luke Shaw is out of contract next year and there are doubts whether he would be able to contend with a more taxing schedule next season, with United likely to be back in Europe.

Shaw, 30, is the only United player who has started in all 30 of their Premier League fixtures this season.

Dorgu, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are other left back options, while 18-year-olds Harry Amass and Diego Leon are recognisable left backs. 

United could also bring in a back-up goalkeeper, with No.2 Altay Bayindir set to leave.