Casemiro replacement: Manchester United have made stunning bid to land £34m “box-crasher” who is technically better than Rodri to replace Casemiro before league starts

Manchester United has demonstrated significant ambition in the summer transfer market, propelled by the financial backing of new owners INEOS. Their recent acquisitions include highly-regarded defender Leny Yoro from Lille and striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.

After a lackluster 2023/24 Premier League season, where they finished in eighth place, Manchester United redeemed themselves with a victory in the FA Cup. They triumphed over their rivals, Manchester City, with a 2-1 win at Wembley. Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo in the first half secured the win.

This FA Cup success was crucial as it ensured Manchester United’s participation in European competitions next season, securing them a spot in the Europa League. Despite this achievement, the club’s primary goal, given the substantial financial investments, is to return to the Champions League for the 2025/26 season.

In the latest transfer developments, Football Transfers reports that Manchester United is eyeing PSV Eindhoven’s Joey Veerman as an alternative option for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The club is looking to offload Scott McTominay, with the Scottish midfielder being valued at £40 million to make room for new acquisitions.

Joey Veerman, who is valued at £34 million by Transfermarkt, had an impressive season with PSV. He made 41 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven goals, providing 19 assists, and amassing a total of 3,420 minutes on the pitch.

A comparison using FBref’s “similar players” feature highlights that Veerman’s style closely resembles that of Manchester City’s midfield star, Rodri. As Manchester United seeks to find a replacement for Casemiro and a new partner for Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, Veerman could be an ideal candidate. If Veerman can provide the same technical reliability and defensive coverage as Rodri, while also effectively controlling the game’s tempo, he could be a key addition to Manchester United’s squad.

Veerman’s creative passing statistics are particularly impressive. He averages 4.91 key passes per 90 minutes and 11.86 progressive passes per 90 minutes, numbers comparable to Rodri’s 12.28 progressive passes per 90 minutes. These statistics highlight Veerman’s potential to influence games from deep positions, much like Rodri does for Manchester City, a team renowned for its possession-dominant style of play.

A progressive carry is defined as moving the ball at least 10 yards towards the opponent’s goal or into the penalty area from its starting point. Veerman’s ability to maintain possession and his high passing volume, with 20 more passes per 90 minutes than Casemiro, allow him to control the game from deeper areas. This was evident in his performances for the Netherlands in Euro 2024, where he drew comparisons to Rodri.

Veerman’s additional technical skills, varied passing, and ability to carry the ball from midfield would enhance Manchester United’s build-up play, allowing Mainoo to operate higher up the pitch and in more threatening positions.

Defensively, Veerman is also robust, averaging 2.57 tackles per 90 minutes, 1.13 blocks per 90 minutes, and winning 1.17 aerial duels per 90 minutes. These numbers are similar to Rodri’s and not far off from Casemiro’s, who is gradually losing his defensive edge due to age and declining physicality. Veerman’s combination of offensive and defensive attributes could make him a valuable asset for Manchester United’s future ambitions.