Man Utd
Manchester United willing to extend Casemiro only if he accepts a pay cut
United prepared to extend Casemiro only if he accepts a “sizable” pay cut on current terms. To stay.
Manchester United remain prepared to offer Casemiro a new deal, but only if the midfielder agrees to a reduced salary. The Brazilian is in the final year of his contract, though the club hold an option to add a further 12 months. Triggering that option would mean Casemiro would keep his existing pay packet for 2026–27, so United want to restructure his contract to relieve the wage bill.
Capology lists Casemiro as the club’s highest earner at £350,000 ($465,520) a week, having joined the club from Real Madrid in 2022. According to ESPN, United are willing to offer the midfielder an extension on the condition that he takes a “sizable” pay cut.
Casemiro’s form has shown signs of improvement under Amorim, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s priority of reducing the highest earners on the wage book keeps the player’s future uncertain. Ratcliffe has recently reasserted his backing of the under-pressure Amorim, who faces expectations to refresh United’s midfield next summer.
While Casemiro has previously been linked with an exit, the club also face potential changes elsewhere in central midfield. The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte may look for new opportunities at the end of the current campaign. United have also been linked with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba; the Seagulls resisted what the report described as a rather tame approach from United in the summer.
With the option in Casemiro’s existing contract keeping his salary intact if triggered, the club’s stated intention is to reach a new agreement that eases the financial burden rather than simply activating the 12-month extension on the current terms. Any decision over a restructured deal will shape United’s midfield planning heading into the next transfer window.
International
Keane Questions Rashford’s Role at United as England Opportunity Arrives
Keane criticised Rashford’s role at United but acknowledged his talent as England recall looms soon.
Roy Keane has publicly challenged Marcus Rashford’s contribution to the culture at his former club while acknowledging the forward’s talent as he returns to the England setup. Rashford had suggested recently: “I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent.” That comment was widely interpreted as a critique of long-standing dysfunction at Manchester United.
Keane addressed those remarks on ITV, saying: “Towards the end of his time at United, there was obviously issues,” and added: “He was part of the problem with the environment, especially [as] one of the most experienced players at United.
“He should have been setting the standards and showing new people at he club what it’s like to be a United player. But that’s been well documented. What we have to look at is he’s got this chance now with England and he deserved it.”
The article notes Rashford spent nine years in the senior side at his boyhood club and played for six different managers during that period, each attempting different styles with squads assembled by earlier regimes. Keane conceded Rashford’s quality, saying: “No doubt about his talent, he’s obviously fantastic.” He went on to pinpoint areas for improvement: “But the bit that would have frustrated fans is his body language, not running back or not pressing properly. That’s the things he needs to tidy up and if he does there’s no reason he can’t become a world class player.”
Rashford, the 27-year-old, earned a recall to the national team under Thomas Tuchel in March after a year out of international selection. He played the second half of last week’s friendly win over Wales and made an impact during 19 minutes against Latvia with a forward-minded showing. Tuchel specifically outlined that he selected Rashford “for the work-rate against the ball” which he has shown for Barcelona and Aston Villa since being frozen out at Manchester United by Ruben Amorim.
Crystal Palace
Palace Move to Keep Glasner as United Links and Amorim Debate Continue
Crystal Palace have opened talks to extend Oliver Glasner as United interest in him persists. Today.
Crystal Palace have begun contract talks with manager Oliver Glasner as the club seeks to secure his future while outside interest persists. The 51-year-old is out of contract next summer and Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed discussions have started over an extension.
Palace arrived at the talks off the back of a 19-game unbeaten run across all competitions, a sequence that was ended by Jack Grealish and Everton just before the October international break. That run and Palace’s free-flowing style have helped Glasner attract admirers beyond Selhurst Park.
Glasner has been linked with Manchester United amid pressure on current boss Ruben Amorim, and Bayern Munich have also been mentioned as a possible destination. Glasner is no stranger to Germany after managing Eintracht Frankfurt and is noted for lifting the 2021–22 Europa League with the club.
On talkSPORT, Parish outlined Palace’s intentions. “We’ve had some early conversations,” he told talkSPORT. “We’d love to keep Oliver. We’re building something. I think for Oliver it’s about the conditions being right… it’s about everything being in a way that he enjoys his work and he finds the conditions favourable to achieve.
“Oliver wants to win things. If we can align those interests then hopefully we can make something happen.”
Whether Manchester United will pursue a change remains uncertain. Amorim has faced sustained criticism of his tactics and a testing relationship with the media, though he has consistently said he will not walk away from Old Trafford regardless of results.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called for patience and recently committed to giving Amorim time to prove himself. “Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years,” Ratcliffe said. “Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight,” he continued when asked if Amorim would be given that amount of time. “It’s three years. You also look at Arteta at Arsenal . He had a miserable time over the first couple of years.
“We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn’t a light switch. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”
Barcelona
Rashford Cites United’s Instability as Factor in His Struggle for Consistency
Rashford blamed an unstable environment at United for his inconsistency and vows to improve his game
Marcus Rashford has acknowledged that consistency remains the central issue in his game and suggested his time at Manchester United contributed to that problem. The England forward was responding to assessments from figures such as Thomas Tuchel that his tendency to produce sporadic brilliance, rather than sustained excellence, is his defining weakness.
“For sure, consistency is a massive part of it,” he told ITV. “I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent.
“But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game and I am looking to do that. I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible.
“When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train.
“We have just had so many changes so far in my career but I have to look forward and that is definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often.
“When I am at my best I really enjoy everything about the sport.”
Rashford’s senior United career spanned numerous managerial changes. Ruben Amorim was the sixth permanent manager he experienced at club level. He made his debut under Louis van Gaal and later worked with José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, while also experiencing brief caretaker spells under Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
His most productive period at the club came under Solskjær, when he recorded 55 goals and 36 assists in 135 appearances. No manager has given him more minutes or more appearances than the Norwegian.
Now on loan at Barcelona and working with Hansi Flick, Rashford has made a strong start in Catalonia. The La Liga champions have the option to sign him permanently when his loan expires last summer and recent reports suggest everyone involved is keen on that outcome.
