Casemiro

Real Madrid are confident of signing Rodri from Manchester City amid Pep Guardiola’s departure, Bayern Munich plan a shock move for John Stones, while Atletico Madrid want Marc Cucurella.

Pep Guardiola’s impending exit from Manchester City opens the door for 29-year-old Spain midfielder Rodri to join Real Madrid this summer. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Bayern Munich are considering a shock move for England defender John Stones with the 31-year-old set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season. (Mail), external

Atletico Madrid are weighing up moves for Manchester City‘s 31-year-old Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva and Chelsea‘s 27-year-old Spain defender Marc Cucurella. (Sky Sports), external

Inter Miami are closing in on the signing of Manchester United‘s Brazil midfielder Casemiro with the 34-year-old set to leave the club at the end of the season. (Athletic) , external

Liverpool‘s 33-year-old Brazil goalkeeper Alisson wants to join Juventus this summer even if the Serie A side fail to qualify for the Champions League. (Gazzetta – in Italian), external

Barcelona have agreed personal terms with 28-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford as they look to make his loan deal permanent, but are yet to agree a transfer fee with Manchester United. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Liverpool have formally registered their interest in 20-year-old Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure but they face competition from Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle who also admire the Ivorian. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are monitoring Borussia Dortmund left-back Julian Ryerson, 28, with the Norway international being lined up as a possible replacement for Noussair Mazraoui. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Manchester United could take advantage of Southampton’s Spygate controversy by moving for 22-year-old Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles. (Mirror), external

Liverpool could make a move for 21-year-old Norway winger Antonio Nusa should a deal for his RB Leipzig team-mate Yan Diomande become too difficult. (Football Insider), external

Fenerbahce have emerged as a surprise contender to sign 33-year-old Egypt forward Mohamed Salah from Liverpool this summer. (Caught Offside), external

Chelsea are weighing up a move for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, 27, with the Burkina Faso international having previously worked under incoming boss Xabi Alonso. (Teamtalk), external

Borussia Dortmund are unlikely to bring Manchester United‘s 26-year-old England winger Jadon Sancho, who is on loan at Aston Villa, back to the club for a third spell. (Bild – in German), external

It took three months of hard work to change Amorim’s mind.

On 6 March 2025, he started the first leg of the Europa League last-16 draw with Real Sociedad. He kept his place for the league game against Arsenal and, from that point, has started every major game United have played.

“Football changes. Life changes,” Casemiro said in his recent interview with former United captain Ferdinand.

“For me, [with] the best players in the world, it’s about the mentality. I might not play good – I’m not a robot and I know. But the next [game], I give everything on the pitch. The mentality is next, next, next.”

It is a mentality that has brought Casemiro back into the Brazil squad – he is expected to be Carlo Ancelotti’s captain at this summer’s tournament.

This season, the 34-year-old’s influence has noticeably increased.

Of all the players in Michael Carrick’s squad, it is widely accepted if Casemiro had been injured in February, after the transfer deadline had closed, his absence would have been the hardest to cover in the ultimately successful quest for Champions League qualification.

“He has been an absolute pleasure to work with,” Carrick says in his programme notes for the Forest game.

“He will always have a special connection with Manchester United.”

Carrick has felt the early clarity around Casemiro’s exit – announced on 22 January, days after the manager’s own return as Amorim’s temporary replacement – has been beneficial for player and club.

Aside from the mentality aspect, the player’s influence at Old Trafford should extend far longer than his physical presence.

When Casemiro arrived from Real Madrid in 2022 in a deal worth up to £70m, Kobbie Mainoo, then aged 17, felt he would learn huge amounts from one of the most decorated players in the game.

Amid the Brazilian’s collapse in form, Mainoo ended up battling for a start with Casemiro, which wasn’t a situation he envisaged.

The clear by-product of Amorim’s exit has been the partnership between the pair, who have played alongside each other in 13 of Carrick’s 15 matches in charge – a one-match absence for both players because of minor injuries the only reason it was not 15 out of 15.

“Kobbie is my friend,” Casemiro explained earlier this month in a separate interview with the respected United We Stand fanzine.

“I have an excellent relationship with him. We are always joking – in English because he doesn’t speak Portuguese.

“He is a complete player, the present and the future of Manchester.

“Why? Because he has already taught us that he can play to a high level for his club and country. The one thing he needs to improve is to play more with the ball, to touch the ball more, because he has so much quality.

“Then it’s the decision-making which comes with experience. That improves with age.”

Napoli will turn Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund’s loan into a permanent move, West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville is being monitored by a number of clubs and Chelsea consider appointing Xavi Hernandez as their next manager.

Napoli say they will sign on-loan Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund, 23, on a permanent deal. The Serie A side are close to securing a Champions League spot which would trigger a £38m fee for the Denmark forward. (Mirror), external

West Ham attacker Crysencio Summerville, 24, is being monitored by a number of clubs across Europe, with the Dutch winger’s asking price set to drop if the Hammers are relegated. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is under consideration by Chelsea to be their next manager. (Independent), external

Tottenham and Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, 29, and Liverpool‘s England midfielder Curtis Jones, 25, are on Inter Milan’s radar. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is set to stay at the club, despite Ajax being interested in the Dutchman. (Mirror), external

Liverpool are weighing up a move for 28-year-old Bournemouth and Argentina defender Marco Senesi, who has verbally agreed to join Tottenham if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. (Talksport), external

Barcelona are interested in Bournemouth‘s 19-year-old forward Junior Kroupi but will face competition from Manchester City and several other Premier League clubs for the France Under-21 international. (Sky Sports), external

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will get the chance to lead the club’s biggest rebuild since the 2021 takeover, with significant change expected at St James’ Park this summer. (i sport), external

Portugal and Juventus forward Francisco Conceicao, 23, is being watched by a number of Premier League clubs. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Major League Soccer sides LA Galaxy and Inter Miami lead the race to sign Manchester United‘s Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 34, when his Old Trafford contract expires, despite interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. (Talksport), external

Casemiro’s desire to play with Lionel Messi means the 34-year-old is willing to reduce his salary demands to join the 38-year-old Argentina forward at Inter Miami. (Sky Sports), external

Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Jr, 25, wants some things to change at the Bernabeu – not just his salary – before he signs a new contract with the club. (Radio Marca – in Spanish), external

Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness says Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer, 28, is “not Maradona” as the two parties struggle to agree a contract extension. (Sky Sport Germany – in German), external