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As the curtain closes on the Brazilian's time at Old Trafford, his potential successor is staring them right in the face
, the player, was of the classy metronome ilk, without possessing the combative streak Keane made his modus operandi, one that drove the standards right throughout the club.
As he waved an emotional goodbye to supporters on Sunday after United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, Casemiro heads to the beaches of Miami having made his mark, but without proving to be that inspiration he had initially threatened to be. In a bizarre twist of fate, the perfect successor in every way was on the pitch to see the departing Brazilian off into the sunset, registering two assists and running the show for 90 minutes, as he so often, effortlessly does, for the losing side.
Elliot Anderson is everything United need in a midfielder. One second he resembles Kevin De Bruyne in his dynamism and ability to pick a forward pass, as his two perfect pickouts at Old Trafford for Morato and Morgan Gibbs-White’s respective goals prove. The next, like the many-headed beast hydra, Anderson pops up in every corner of the pitch to win the ball back, with channelled aggression and positional knowhow one cannot teach.
No player on the pitch made more than the England midfielder’s 18 defensive contributions all match. On another day, had Forest put away their late chances, Anderson would have had more assists in one afternoon than record-equallingfor the game-clinching strike in the second half that took him to 20 assists for the season, level with De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for assists in a single Premier League term.
Sources close to the United hierarchy insist they will not be held to ransom by Forest over their top target Anderson. If the fee is upwards of £100m, they are adamant they will look at plentiful other options and move on. No regrets. The alternatives, however, would not have anything like the same galvanising power.
This United squad has been well strengthened of late and is on the cusp of being able to mount a sustained Premier League title tilt once again. Adding Anderson to it takes it from potentially good to potentially great.
As emotional a moment as it was when a tearful Casemiro was given a standing ovation in the second half before addressing supporters in a presentation upon the final whistle, the long goodbye perhaps was a damning indictment of the dearth of game-changing midfield talent post Carrick and Keane. Casemiro faded fast after an impressive first season, enduring two stop-start campaigns that followed.
He deserves immense credit for enjoying an Indian summer this term, when most would have downed tools and taken home his astronomical wages when left out of the team. His overall legacy, however, is not one who justified the exorbitant outlay. Anderson, whatever the cost, would. He will leave Forest this summer, that much is certain.
Several sources have indicated for many months thatwill be the destination. They would be willing to pay whatever Anderson costs to fill that gaping Bernardo Silva-shaped void. United would not even be able to compete on wages, should it come down to that. Ineos must beat the traffic.
The co-owners deserve credit for instilling a more measured approach after years of profligacy in the transfer market around these parts. Anderson, however, is one they should make an exception for.
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