Manchester United are expected to trigger one-year options in five players' contracts before the January transfer window closes.
23.08.2022 - 16:45 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Casemiro's mentality will massively improve Erik ten Hag's team.
Casemiro was formally confirmed as a United player on Monday night when he was unveiled on the pitch ahead of United's win over Liverpool.
He watched the game from the stands and will be chomping at the bit to earn his debut when the Reds travel to Southampton on Saturday lunchtime.
READ MORE: Casemiro can complete United's best midfield after Liverpool win
Casemiro's arrival in Manchester has prompted questions from some quarters about the initial £60million fee that United have paid. But while Hargreaves agrees that they have splashed out a lavish amount of money for a player of Casemiro's age, 30, he believes they have made a brilliant addition to the squad, describing the midfielder as "really special."
"I think the boys need somebody else in with them, you can see that," said Hargreaves. "You can see that they are struggling confidence-wise.
"He is 30 years old, he's won five Champions League titles and he has been at the base of one of the best midfields we have ever seen with [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos. I think he is just what they need. He has got a mentality where he expects to win and demands to win. The point is that you need more players like him in and around that.
"United lost so many leaders and captains over a relatively quick space of time; Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, the list goes on forever. I don't feel like that they have that nucleus there, but I think he is a guy that, with David de Gea, Raphael Varane and Cristiano, creates a decent spine.
"They need to come together and I think he is perfect for them. He is not going to score a tonne of
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