Manchester United are now ramping up their efforts to sign Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and would ideally like to have the deal completed before they face Liverpool on Monday night, according to reports.
The Red Devils sent officials to the Spanish capital this week to sound out the Brazil international, with United prepared to offer him a bumper five-year contract that would nearly double his salary.
On Wednesday, Casemiro spoke to Florentino Perez about United’s approach and although Real do not want him to leave, they feel he has earned the right to decide his own future and will not stand in his way.
Perez does, however, expect to receive a big transfer fee for the five-time Champions League winner with Casemiro likely to command a fee of around €59million.
United had not yet made contact with Real’s hierarchy over the move and were waiting to get the green light from the 30-year-old enforcer, having already been burned by their unsuccessful pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
But now that Casemiro appears very receptive to the move, Spanish television show El Chiringuito claim that United are rapidly accelerating talks.
The midfielder’s future could be fully resolved in the next 48 hours, with Real ready to cash in for £59m – a fee United are prepared to pay – and Casemiro happy with the terms that have been communicated to him.
That salary package – and the duration of the deal – are practically considered too good to turn down and all parties believe a deal could be completed quickly.
In fact, El Chiringuito even go so far as to claim that United want to have Casemiro registered in time to take on Liverpool on Monday night – though that seems a little farfetched given that the deadline is noon on Friday.
The Real midfielder has something of a history against Liverpool, having twice been on the winning side against the Merseysiders in the Champions League final – including last season’s.
Casemiro’s contract offer still needs to be put in writing and an official bid submitted, but another Spanish outlet, Relevo, claims the Brazilian has already told team-mates that he sees himself playing at Old Trafford.