MANCHESTER UNITED are facing a nightmare trying to move on Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, 71, is taking over football operations at Old Trafford having bought 25 per cent of the club for £1.03billion.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken over the football operations at Manchester UnitedCredit: Alamy
Casemiro is on a hefty wage at Old TraffordCredit: Rex
And the new regime want to sort a deal for Casemiro to help trim the Red Devils’ wage bill.
But the stumbling block is that Casemiro — who joined United from Real Madrid for £60million in August 2022 — is on a £350,000-a-week salary and still has two and a half years left on his contract.
In total, the 31-year-old — who is back in training after being sidelined since the start of November because of a hamstring injury — would be owed around £30m.
Ratcliffe and his Ineos team, which includes right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, discovered there are many extra costs in the squad that they are about to inherit from the Glazers.
And that is likely to mean little incoming business in the January window while they sift through the squad.
Donny van de Beek has moved on loan to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and Sergio Reguilon was sent back to Spurs after his temporary Old Trafford spell.
The Spanish left-back provided cover for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, who both suffered long-term injuries in the first half of the season.
Jadon Sancho is also set to return to his former club Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season.
He has been frozen out at Old Trafford since falling out with boss Erik ten Hag in September.
Ten Hag, 53, criticised Sancho’s training levels after dropping him for a trip to Arsenal, subsequently banishing him from the first team when the England international refuted his claims.
Sancho has since trained with the reserves, even being banned from the first team canteen after refusing to apologise.
The winger’s deal with Dortmund will not include an option to make the move permanent according to reports.
