Casemiro has exposed Manchester United's biggest transfer problem

Erik ten Hag asked Manchester United to sign him a central midfielder from one of the top sides in La Liga this summer. But instead of landing Frenkie de Jong, it looks like the arrival of Casemiro is a lot more likely to happen.

United insist a move for De Jong is not dead, but there is a general acceptance that if a deal for the Real Madrid midfielder can be agreed instead, then the pursuit of the Dutchman will no longer be financially viable this year.

The fact that United see Casemiro as a midfield alternative so late in the window highlights their scattergun approach, and although he would address the team’s need for a defensive midfielder, it begs the question of who actually wants him.

READ MORE: United advancing with possible Casemiro transfer

To go from De Jong, a player trained on the Total Football mantra of Johan Cruyff, to Casemiro, a no-nonsense mediator in midfield, is like going to rehome a Labrador and coming home with a Rottweiler instead. It’s hard to see how he was ever a like-for-like alternative.

Casemiro would still be a huge improvement on the options already at United and would by no means be a bad addition to their squad, but at the age of 30, it once again raises a question about the long term plan, or rather, the lack of it.

In a similar vein to the addition of Nemanja Matic back in 2017, United would be getting a clear short-term improvement for their side but a player who would then likely need to be replaced in another two or three seasons' time.

Ten Hag’s need for an immediate improvement makes this a justifiable acquisition in order to ease the pressure after a dire start to the season, though it is certainly a reactionary move, having failed to sign De Jong or Adrien Rabiot.

United must