Manchester United £51m transfer could finally unlock attacking midfield Erik ten Hag dreams of

For Manchester United's current holding midfielder, the opening weekend of the Premier League season was an improvement. A leaner-looking Casemiro showed glimpses of encouragement to suggest the obituaries penned for his career in Europe can be filed away for a little longer yet.

But what stood about the 32-year-old was his quality on the ball. One of the standout moments for the United midfielder was the pass he threaded to Bruno Fernandes to create the best chance of the first half.

Casemiro's passing has always been an underrated aspect of his game and one that he has displayed more at United than he ever needed to at Real Madrid. But primarily his job is to hold the fort at the base of midfield and he found that difficult last season.

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That is why United are looking at long-term replacements and Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte is likely to fill that position this season. The 23-year-old has been top of United's wishlist all summer and there is growing confidence a deal will be done with Paris St-Germain before the transfer window closes on June 30.

Ugarte is an aggressive, physical holding midfielder with a big engine. He will be able to get through more work than Casemiro and cover more ground, allowing United to shift another midfielder closer to Fernandes. That could even be Casemiro, or more likely Kobbie Mainoo, over Mason Mount. It could even be a couple of them if Fernandes plays in the front three.

It would give Ten Hag an embarrassment of riches in central areas but it does feel like Ugarte might be the final piece of the jigsaw.