Former striker Michael Owen believes Casemiro's addition to the squad could further impact Manchester United captain Harry Maguire's prospects of winning his place back in Erik ten Hag's plans.
Maguire, who found himself under constant scrutiny last season, was left out of the starting line-up for the second game in succession on Saturday, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez once again preferred at centre-back for the 1-0 win over Southampton at St Mary's. The duo started alongside each other against Liverpool too, with Varane preferred to Maguire, and formed a promising-looking partnership.
They each played their part on the South Coast, helping United register their first away win of the season and a first clean sheet on the road since December last year, leaving Maguire with an uphill struggle to win his place back.
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His hopes of doing so, in the eyes of Owen, however, have not been helped by the signing of Casemiro. The Brazilian international, who stepped off the bench to make his United debut against Southampton, has been brought to Old Trafford to beef up United's midfield and offer a layer of protection to the defensive rearguard behind him.
Therefore, should he help United's back-four build on Saturday's first clean sheet of the season and it becomes a regular habit, Maguire could face a difficult challenge to dislodge either Varane or Martinez from the team.
"He [Ten Hag] has now got a bit of protection as well with Casemiro signing, so I think that whole situation is looking good at the moment," Owen told Premier League Productions. "Where does that leave Maguire?
"He has got a really big decision to make. But what he has got is a World Cup in a couple of months and he is an integral part of the England team.
"What he will be thinking is 'I want to get back in the United team, but my World Cup place [could be in doubt] as well'. It is really interesting; he is the club captain and he might be thinking about going on loan somewhere.
"But I can't imagine Manchester United letting him go out on loan, especially being the club captain. Personally, I think he will stay and just have to ride it out."
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