Man United Told to Sign Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton as Casemiro Replacement

‎Manchester United have been advised to consider signing Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton as they prepare for life after Casemiro, according to a former Champions League-winning player who previously represented the club. Although Casemiro has played a key role in Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start, his improved form has not led to a contract renewal.

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‎Owen Hargreaves recommends Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton as Manchester United midfield targets while backing Michael Carrick’s decision to ease Benjamin Sesko into the team.

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‎The club’s summer transfer activity is expected to focus heavily on midfield recruitment. United evaluated midfield additions last summer but chose instead to strengthen their attacking department. The club spent more than £200 million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. While midfield was already a priority for the upcoming season, Casemiro’s expected exit has made the need even more pressing.

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‎Casemiro transformed United’s fortunes when he joined from Real Madrid for £70 million in 2022 after the team endured a difficult start under Erik ten Hag. He played a major part in securing a third-place finish and Carabao Cup success that season. However, his second campaign proved challenging, leading pundit Jamie Carragher to claim his time at the highest level had ended.

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‎In the last year, Casemiro has delivered strong performances again, meaning United face a tough task replacing the Brazil captain and five-time Champions League winner.

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‎Owen Hargreaves praised Casemiro for responding to intense criticism, describing it as excessive. He believes Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is currently the most suitable option to succeed him at Old Trafford.

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‎During an interview with GOAL for TNT Sports, Hargreaves highlighted the qualities of both Anderson and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. He said Wharton reads the game quickly, makes smart decisions and excels with first-time passes. Anderson, meanwhile, offers a more physical and aggressive style. Hargreaves described both as exceptionally talented young players but suggested Anderson may currently be the stronger option due to his physical attributes, while emphasising Wharton’s intelligence would allow him to fit into any team.

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‎Hargreaves compared Anderson’s mentality to Declan Rice, noting that Anderson has taken advantage of opportunities and is improving rapidly. The midfielder, who has been partnering Rice for England since September, has the physical tools, technical skill and personality required. Hargreaves stressed that personality is vital when dealing with the demands of playing for a club like Manchester United, something not easily measured by statistics or scouting data.

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‎Anderson will aim to help Nottingham Forest secure an important win against Wolves on Wednesday as they battle relegation. The fixture is part of 10 Premier League matches being shown live on TNT Sports this week.

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‎Other Wednesday fixtures include Manchester City hosting Fulham after their comeback win against Liverpool. Liverpool travel to Sunderland hoping to recover from their late defeat. Crystal Palace play Burnley, while Aston Villa host Brighton and Hove Albion.

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‎On Thursday, Arsenal, who lead the Premier League table, will play away at Brentford.

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‎Benjamin Sesko maintained Carrick’s unbeaten run by scoring a 96th-minute equaliser in United’s 1-1 draw against West Ham. He previously scored a 94th-minute winner against Fulham, marking his second stoppage-time goal in three matches. Since arriving from RB Salzburg for £74 million, he has scored seven goals but has not yet started a match under Carrick.

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‎Hargreaves supported Carrick’s strategy with Sesko, noting United historically eased young forwards into the team. He recalled past eras featuring elite attackers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, where young players learned by training alongside experienced stars.

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‎He referenced Danny Welbeck as an example of this development path, recalling how Welbeck trained with senior players daily as a teenager. Hargreaves suggested pushing young attackers like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund into major roles too quickly can harm long-term development, especially when team performance is poor and pressure increases.

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‎Hargreaves believes limiting Sesko’s minutes while allowing him to learn is helping him improve. While players often demand more playing time, he stressed that patience can be beneficial. He believes Carrick’s experience is helping guide Sesko’s progress and that the approach is producing positive results.