Chelsea have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Real Madrid star Casemiro as the Blues are ‘considering a late summer bid’.
The Blues and Man Utd have been trailing each other’s tail in their attempts to sign a new midfielder this summer.
Both clubs are known to be admirers of Frenkie de Jong, who is no closer to leaving Barcelona after what feels like years of talks.
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The summer transfer window closes in just over two weeks, so Chelsea and Man Utd are wisely looking elsewhere.
United have targeted Adrien Rabiot but this deal is off the table with the club ‘unwilling’ to meet the player’s wage demands.
Real Madrid’s Casemiro is another player Man Utd are tracking. They are not having it all their own way though as Chelsea are also keen.
Speaking last season, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel suggested that Casemiro helps to “carry” Real Madrid:
“I gave all the praise to Karim Benzema. I said two years ago he was one of the most underrated players in world football, but maybe not anymore,” Tuchel said via Sports Illustrated.
“He deserves the praise for playing for so many years for Real Madrid. What he did to overcome the last stage for them, to carry responsibility. What a key part he plays for them as a captain now is very impressive.
“You can see what happens with the team in his absence. For sure a standout player and personality.
“It is unfair in this moment, to Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro – the guys who carry this team for almost a decade now.
“They are huge personalities, who I am genuinely a fan about – for sure not today, for sure not tomorrow!”
Casemiro has played just short of 350 times for Real Madrid, but his place could come under threat with Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni now competing for a place in midfield.
Chelsea are ‘long-term admirers’ of Casemiro and they ‘would be interested’ in signing the 30-year-old this summer, according to 90min.
The report stated that Chelsea have been looking at the midfielder ‘far longer’ than Man Utd.
After signing the likes of Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, Blues owner Todd Boehly is now ‘considering a late summer bid for the Brazil international’.
It is noted that Real Madrid would prefer to keep Casemiro, but they would be ‘tempted’ to sell him for £51m.
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