Casemiro's time is up! Joao Neves, Joshua Kimmich & the eight midfielders who could replace Man Utd's declining Brazilian in the summer transfer window

United could end up pairing Mainoo with another teenage sensation if they can close a deal with Benfica for Joao Neves. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a stunning first full season in the first team at Estadio Da Luz, and Portuguese publicationRecord claims he is a priority target for the Red Devils, who have set aside €100 million (£85.7m/$107.8m) to secure his signature.

Neves is already an accomplished holding midfielder. He's a genius on the ball, and pushes Benfica forward at every opportunity with his progressive dribbling and passing, which has also earned him a place in the Portugal national team.

Bruno Fernandes has seen Neves' quality up close in Roberto Martinez's squad, and the United captain has welcomed the prospect of linking up with his countryman at Old Trafford. "I don’t know if United rumours are true, but I know he is ready for that big jump," Fernandes said in March. "He is an excellent player, he’s with the national team. That’s also why the big clubs are after him."

Smashing their all-time transfer record to sign Neves would be a big risk for United, but it could pay off ten-fold.

United were heavily linked with Amadou Onana in January, and have been tipped to rekindle their interest when the transfer window reopens, with Everton ready to cash in amid their ongoing financial struggles. The 22-year-old has been immense for the Toffees during a turbulent period, having initially joined the club from Lille for £23m ($28m) in 2022, and is also said to be on the radar of Barcelona.

According to Foot Mercato, the Red Devils are willing to pay £52m ($66m) to win the race for Onana, who is a physically imposing midfielder who also boasts outstanding technical ability and reads the game like a seasoned veteran.

"I see myself, God willing, in one of the biggest clubs recognised worldwide," the Everton star said in an interview with So Foot last month. You can't get much bigger than United, and that kind of self confidence bodes well for his chances of succeeding at Old Trafford, where strength of character often outweighs talent alone.

Bayer Leverkusen are enjoying a historic 2023-24 campaign under Xabi Alonso, and Exequiel Palacios has been the unsung hero behind their success after forging a fearsome partnership with Granit Xhaka in front of the defence. The 25-year-old, who was a member of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad, always wants to get on the ball and can open games up from the tightest spaces with his creativity - and aggression.

According to Sport Bild, United have already expressed concrete interest in Palacios and could secure his services for the bargain price of £34m ($43m), despite the fact he is under contract at Leverkusen until 2028.

The prospect of Palacios and Mainoo working together in the United engine room is a tantalising one, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Leverkusen star will swap Champions League football to be part of a rebuilding project at Old Trafford, especially now that Alonso has committed to staying put.

Morten Hjulmand is not a player most casual fans will be familiar with, but he's quickly become a key player at Sporting after joining the Portuguese giants from Lecce for €18m (£15m/$20m). According to The Sun, United proposed a swap deal for Hjulmand involving Facundo Pellistri in the winter window, but Sporting snubbed their advances.

The Red Devils will have to trigger the 24-year-old's £69m ($88m) release clause if they are to prise him away from Sporting, which seems like a steep price on the surface, but he could prove to be worth the investment. Hjulmand has helped Sporting storm to the top of Liga Portugal with his stellar displays in the middle of the park, with his tenacious style of play rubbing off on the rest of his team-mates.

He's a forward-thinking midfielder and a natural leader, something United have lacked for some time, and he also counts fellow Denmark international Christian Eriksen as his "mentor", which could help him to settle into new surroundings in Manchester quicker than the other players on this list.

The first player most supporters think of when they hear the name Ederson is Manchester City's classy goalkeeper, but that could be about to change. His namesake, who has been tipped to join the Brazilian in Dorival Junior's national-team set-up, has been a standout performer for Atalanta in Serie A over the past two seasons, and a number of Premier League clubs have been credited with interest.

United are said to be at the front of the queue, with Ederson seen as a direct replacement for his decaying compatriot Casemiro. The Red Devils already have a strong relationship with Atalanta after negotiating deals for Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund, and reports in Italy suggest Ederson could be available for around €35m (£30m/$38m) this summer.

That could end up being a bargain price. The 24-year-old would have no trouble adjusting to the physical demands of the Premier League and has a direct style of play that can help drive United forward as they enter a potentially exciting new era.

Joao Palhinha has established himself among the Premier League's elite midfielders since joining Fulham from Sporting in 2022, earning widespread plaudits for his aggressive counter-pressing and ball-winning skills. The 28-year-old is a unique player and could slot straight into United's line up without a hitch.

"His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football," Marco Silva said of Palhinha's importance to Fulham back in October. The Portuguese has been Fulham's most consistent player again this season, bouncing back admirably from a disappointing failed transfer to Bayern Munich, and also has a penchant for coming up with crucial goals.

It has been reported that United held an interest in Palhinha last summer, but baulked at Fulham's £90m ($113m) asking price. However, the Cottagers may be more willing to compromise this time around out of respect for their prized asset, who deserves a chance to step up to a massive club, and the Red Devils are poised to revive their pursuit.

In all likelihood, the battle for the 2023-24 PFA Player of the Year will be contested by the likes of Phil Foden, Virgil Van Dijk and Bukayo Saka, who have all shone for title-chasing clubs, but one man toiling at the other end of the table also deserves some recognition. Ross Barkley's career looked to be all but over after a dismal spell at Nice, but Luton gave him a fresh start after their promotion to the top tier, and he's managed to reinvent himself at Kenilworth Road.

Barkley has thrived in a deeper role for the Hatters, who rely on the 30-year-old to break up play in the middle of the park and build their attacks. The confidence-stricken and risk-averse player Chelsea fans became accustomed to is now gone, with Barkley now demanding the ball at every opportunity and setting a shining example for the rest of colleagues.

Talk of an unlikely England recall continues to ramp up ahead of Euro 2024, which just goes to show how much of an impact Barkley has made for Luton, and talkSPORT has claimed Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also a big admirer of the ex-Chelsea man. This new and improved version of Barkley could be a great asset for United, and best of all, he wouldn't cost a penny, given his one-year deal with the Hatters is due to expire this summer.

Last but by no means least is Bayern's Mr Versatile: the one and only Joshua Kimmich. After guiding Bayern to the 2019-20 Champions League, Hansi Flick famously singled out Kimmich for praise, saying: "Joshua Kimmich is an absolute professional, a mentality monster."

The Germany international is capable of operating anywhere in midfield and defence, and his passing range is exceptional. He also excels at stealing the ball back from the opposition because of his superb positional sense and dogged mentality, which is why he is likely to be in very high demand this summer.

Old Trafford has been mooted as one possible destination for Kimmich as he approaches the final year of his contract at Bayern, who have been knocked off their perch atop the Bundesliga by Leverkusen this season.

A new challenge at United could well appeal to the 28-year-old, and Louis Saha believes he would solve a key issue for his old club. The ex-Red Devils striker recently told Betfred: "Kimmich would obviously be a great fit because he’s one of the fittest players in Europe, is capable of running games and is very slick."