Alan Smith names ‘natural’ replacement for Casemiro Man Utd must sign this summer

Former Manchester United star Alan Smith believes Adam Wharton is a ‘natural’ replacement for Casemiro when the Brazilian leaves Old Trafford this summer.

United have a huge rebuild job in midfield on their hands with Casemiro set to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Signed from Real Madrid for £70million in the summer of 2022, the 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season at the heart of midfield and will leave a gaping hole when he moves on this summer.

United were already targeting at least one new midfielder before the Brazilian confirmed his decision to leave Manchester having tried to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton at the end of the summer transfer window.

Interest remains in the Brighton star with Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson thought to be United’s top target heading into the summer. Crystal Palace’s Wharton is also a player greatly admired at Old Trafford.

Replacing Casemiro will perhaps be the most important business United do this summer. Smith was once tasked with replacing another hugely influential presence in midfield in Roy Keane, converted from a striker to an all-action midfielder by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2005.

Kobbie Mainoo has thrived alongside Casemiro since Michael Carrick ended his exile from the first-team but Smith does not see a situation arising where the England international is asked to drop into that deeper midfield role.

Instead, the former Leeds United star says Wharton could be the perfect solution.

‘I could see him [Wharton] as a natural replacement,’ Smith told Metro via 666Casino.

‘I don’t think Kobbie Mainoo at this stage would be right, because when you’re in that position, you have to be so disciplined to just sit there and people think it’s easy, but it’s not. Your temptation is to want to go, to want to go and challenge, but then if you get caught out, you’re always tracking back and if you see someone’s number and you’re behind them, you’re in trouble because they’re attacking your goal in the wrong position.

‘But I think Adam Wharton, playing in one of the deeper positions would probably be more suitable to that than Kobbie Mainoo at this moment in time.

‘Other than Wharton, it’s difficult to see anybody else as a standout realistically at this moment in time. Obviously, age-wise, the youthfulness of the team and longevity he fits the bill. You’re looking at someone who’s probably played over 150 games in English football now with Blackburn and Palace, so he understands it.

‘He’s played in Europe, played for England, he’s getting that experience, being able to do that. So I feel like he’d be a good candidate to be able to go in there and play.’

Rashford could still have Man Utd future

Marcus Rashford meanwhile has been enjoying an excellent campaign in Spain with Barcelona with the Catalan giants prepared to make his loan move a permanent one this summer.

Should he get the United job permanently, Carrick is thought to be keen to get Rashford back to Manchester.

While the England international appears to favour a clean break, Smith believes he could still have a future back in Manchester.

‘I think that all depends on Marcus. He’s obviously good enough to play there, there’s no doubt about it,’ Smith said.

‘It’s just whether he wants to and whether he’s willing to. For whatever reason it broke down, but I feel like if you’re Michael Carrick and you’re thinking next season I can get Marcus Rashford, it’s a great thing and as if you were signing him from someone to so you’d think I’d love to bring him in, because he’s going to get your goals and he’s going to give you the style of play and attacking football.

‘I’m sure if Marcus Rashford wants to come back and play for Man United, I’m sure the manager would love to have him back.’

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