Attempting to predict what Manchester United's squad will look like come the end of this summer's transfer window is a nigh-on impossible task.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the takeover situation means that almost all of us are in the dark over the size of Erik ten Hag's transfer budget. The Dutchman has grand ambitions of taking United to the next level after a successful 2022/23 campaign but those aspirations could be scuppered by matters out of his control.
Reports over the weekend claimed that Ten Hag has become 'angry' with the takeover saga, claiming that the uncertainty surrounding the whole situation is scuppering his transfer plans. He has long since had plans in place but they are now threatening to blow up in his face.
Though the window has only been officially open for less than a week, United's first pre-season friendly is just over three weeks away. Of course, a lot can change in that time, but it is hard to imagine much, if any, of United's business being concluded by then.
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Signing a striker is Ten Hag's primary mission this summer, though bringing in a central-midfielder and a new goalkeeper are also high up on his wish list. And it is in central-midfield where the Reds have so far made the most progress, agreeing personal terms with Chelsea ace Mason Mount.
The England international is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer and United are hoping to capitalise on that by luring him to Old Trafford. United and Chelsea are yet to reach an agreement on a transfer fee, meaning there are still several hurdles for United to jump over before getting that one over the line.
Ten Hag wants to reduce the average age of his midfield options this summer and Mount, who is 24, would help him achieve that. Though he is often renowned as a seasoned attacking-midfielder, he is, by his own admission, at his best when operating as a deep-lying playmaker in the No.8 berth.
It means, in the event of him being brought to Old Trafford, he would be directly competing with Christian Eriksen for a starting berth alongside Casemiro in Ten Hag's preferred double pivot. United resurrected their midfield woes last summer with the additions of Eriksen and Casemiro, but they both showed signs of fatigue towards the end of the campaign, highlighting why the club needs to add fresh energy.
Though signing Mount would provide Eriksen with added competition and Ten Hag the opportunity to rotate more often, what about Casemiro? He is as important as anyone in the team and without him, as was proven at various junctures during 2022/23, United struggle.
After years of being without a world-class defensive-midfielder, Casemiro was the answer to every United supporter's prayers this season, providing the defensive nous and dominance that they had been lacking for so long. Without him, however, United struggled to control and dictate games in the same manner.
It didn't help matters that United didn't have a reliable defensive-midfielder in reserve. Both Scott McTominay and Fred look to drive forward a lot more than Casemiro does, and it is possible that Fred could be sold this summer, potentially leaving United even lighter in midfield.
Without Casemiro, United don't have an out-and-out defensive-midfielder capable of slotting in and delivering the same qualities. Naturally, there has been talk of United attempting to hijack Arsenal's move for Declan Rice, but that is a complete non-starter. Furthermore, United would not be able to cram Casemiro, Rice, Mount and Bruno Fernandes into the same midfield.
Rice would join United with the expectation of starting every single game and not being Casemiro's understudy. It is why, if United are to maintain balance within their squad and have two players fighting for each position, as is Ten Hag wish, they will need to look for a defensive-midfielder who would be happy with a back-up role.
Whether that comes in the form of a player poached from abroad or a fellow Premier League club, United need to look into bringing in another defensive-midfielder who can provide cover for Casemiro. United fans were impressed by Fulham ace Joao Palhinha back in March and former transfer target Adrien Rabiot is poised to become a free agent at the end of this month, meaning either of those two, for example, would be ideal shouts.
United's budget will dictate what they are capable of over the next ten weeks or so, but it would be a risk to exit the window without recruiting another defensive-midfielder.
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