Manchester United head to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon without Casemiro, a significant absence for a player who has been central to United’s structure this season. Villa have already beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home, so the challenge facing Ruben Amorim’s side is intensified by the Brazilian midfielder’s unavailability.

Casemiro, the 33-year-old, will not make the journey to Villa Park because he is serving a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League. His latest booking was shown in the 4–4 draw with Bournemouth last Monday. This will be only the second match he has missed for United this season; he was also absent for the 3–1 defeat at Brentford in September following a red card picked up against Chelsea.

Casemiro has started all but three games this season, and those matches without him have produced defeats for Amorim’s side. The sequence includes the shock second-round humiliation at Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup and top-flight losses at Manchester City and Brentford. United will be desperate to avoid a fourth successive away loss when playing without him.

When Amorim has omitted Casemiro this season Manuel Ugarte has been the replacement used. The Uruguayan has not impressed in his rare opportunities, and question marks remain over his long-term future at Old Trafford. With Villa’s midfield featuring Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara, the manager must make the right call. Kobbie Mainoo is presented in the squad as the only other viable alternative to Casemiro and Ugarte.

Selection in central midfield will be pivotal to how United approach a stern away test against a Villa side proven to be dangerous at home. The absence of Casemiro forces tactical choices that could shape the immediate course of United’s campaign.

Manchester United are preparing an early push to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo when the January transfer window opens. Central to United’s strategy is a release clause in Semenyo’s contract that would make the Ghana international available for £65 million ($87 million). Reports indicate that this clause is only active for the first two weeks of January, creating a narrow window for any suitor.

United’s plan, according to The Telegraph, is to move quickly once the market reopens. Competition is intense: Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all understood to be in the mix for the 25-year-old.

Part of Manchester United’s reasoning is the perceived uncertainty around Manchester City’s ability to offer Semenyo a clear long-term project. Pep Guardiola is described as a huge fan of Semenyo but has been tipped to step down at the end of the season. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, previously an assistant to Guardiola at City, has been touted as a replacement.

That managerial uncertainty could weaken City’s hand. Without confirmation of a settled long-term vision for the player, City’s potential offer may lack the assurances Semenyo and his camp seek. United and other suitors are looking to exploit that hesitancy by trying to strike a deal in the coming weeks.

United have targeted Semenyo before. They submitted a summer bid of £50 million that was rejected by the Cherries, and they were unwilling to meet Bournemouth’s £80 million asking price at that time. With Bournemouth reportedly agreeing to a lower exit price for the first half of the January window, United believe this is an opportunity to revisit the move and finally secure a long-time target.

The situation presents a clear deadline for interested clubs: act early in January or risk losing the chance to trigger the clause and compete for Semenyo’s signature.

Reports that Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United contract contains an overseas-only release clause have intensified debate over the midfielder’s future at Old Trafford. The Daily Mail says the clause is set at £56.6 million ($75.7 million) and would apply only to clubs outside the Premier League.

The story followed a high-profile interview in which Fernandes said, “United did, in fact, want to sell him to Al Hilal but lacked the guts to tell him to his face.” That remark, alongside his admitted interest in playing in La Liga and Serie A, has prompted fresh speculation about potential moves abroad.

Despite Fernandes’s comments, public messaging from the club has been firm. According to Fabrizio Romano, those in charge at United are adamant Fernandes still has a place at Old Trafford, and the club made it clear they have no plans to sell the 31-year-old.

Transfer timing is a key factor. Sources in the report suggest any exit this January is unlikely, while a move in the summer remains possible. The player is expected to consider his future around the World Cup and could draw renewed interest from Saudi suitors. His openness about Spain and Italy could also encourage offers from clubs in those leagues, while a desire to return to Lisbon and Sporting before retirement has also been mentioned in coverage.

Ultimately, the decision appears to rest with Manchester United. The club are reportedly planning an expensive midfield overhaul and retain control over any sale. For now, Fernandes has repeatedly stressed his wish to stay so long as he is wanted, while also signalling he would accept a departure if the club decided to sell.