Manchester United are closing in on the big-money signing of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, according to the PA news agency.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been looking to strengthen their midfield all summer and a deal worth an initial €60m (£50.7m) is near for the Brazil international .
The fee for Casemiro could rise to €70m (£59.2m) if the terms are met, with a four-year deal plus the option of a further season on the table.
Talk of a medical on Friday seems premature, meaning he would not be registered in time for Monday’s clash with rivals Liverpool.
United are bottom of the Premier League after their 2-1 home loss to Brighton was made worse by last weekend’s 4-0 humiliation at Brentford.
The Old Trafford giants have worked frantically to strengthen Ten Hag’s squad, having so far only managed to bring in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
Casemiro – a former team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane in Spain – is a five-time Champions League winner with Madrid, who he joined from his native Sao Paulo in 2013.
More irons are in the fire as United seek to revive their struggling campaign at a time of intense pressure on the Glazer family.
Protests are planned against the owners ahead of and during Monday’s clash with Liverpool and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly declared his interest in buying the club.
