Wayne Rooney has told Manchester United an uncomfortable truth about Casemiro transfer

It sums up just how much of a mess Manchester United are in that, by their own failure in the transfer market, they have actually stumbled upon a player they needed all along.

Had the club and Erik ten Hag got their way, Frenkie de Jong would have been the big money midfield signing this summer. Instead, it is El Clasico rival Casemiro who will soon be swapping Spain for Stretford.

Ten Hag acknowledged United's lack of a defensive midfielder when he took over the club, but believed the best way to compensate for their soft spine would be to make tactical changes rather than ones of personnel.

READ MORE: United's dream XI with two more signings after Casemiro

Instead of prioritising the addition of a midfield enforcer who could add steel to their stem, he wanted to add some silk, with De Jong viewed as a player who could bring composure and creativity, meaning they would be in control of matches far more often and therefore be less reliant on defending.

The addition of Casemiro does not address that lack of creativity, though the signing of Christian Eriksen does if he is deployed in a deeper midfield role. However, it is still unclear which midfield set-up the manager will favour, given a move for the Brazil international was reactionary rather than planned.

"This goes back to the need to look to the future," Rooney told The Times of the deal to sign Casemiro. "Ideally, they should be signing players in their early to mid-twenties, and Casemiro is similar to Christian Eriksen — someone who has been a good player, but are they going to help the club move forward? Frenkie de Jong, Ten Hag’s principal midfield target, would be a better fit.

"The Casemiro deal seems to have come from nowhere, and looks a reactive