Casemiro lays down Manchester United gauntlet as Erik ten Hag faces big transfer decision

Pre-season often acts as an opportunity for players to prove their worth - a fact that won't be lost on certain members of the Manchester United squad.

After slumping to an eighth-placed Premier League finish last season, Erik ten Hag will likely have been pondering just how many of his current crop posses the ability to get United back competing for the biggest prizes.

The clearout of first-team players has already begun, with the likes of Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood all moving on, and further departures are likely between now and the end of the month.

One individual who many claimed to be at the end of his Red Devils career is Casemiro, whose form dipped to alarmingly low levels at the end of last term. Operating as an emergency central defender for a handful of matches, the Brazilian's lack of pace became brutally exposed and made for painful viewing after his impressive debut campaign at the club.

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Speaking after United's embarrassing 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace in May, Jamie Carragher said of the midfielder: “I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level. The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.

"This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of the modern time. I always remember the saying 'leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.

"The