Manchester United may be able to get themselves a clear run at a Barcelona star if they make some room in their midfield. Strictly speaking, the Red Devils need to add players to their midfield, and that is very much the plan as Michael Carrick looks to replace Casemiro.

Ederson has already been signed from Atalanta, but United are hoping to add a marquee signing to their midfield, but there could be more business done in the middle of the park, both in terms of an incoming and an outgoing.

One upgrade United should consider is Mason Mount, who has had a mixed time at Old Trafford so far.

Man Utd already like Casadó

United have liked the look of Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó for some time. The 22-year-old is said to be on the lookout for a new club this summer having struggled for regular game time last season. He did make 24 league appearances, but the young Spaniard is not a regular starter, and that is not likely to change next season, given the strength of Barca’s squad.

It was reported that Casadó would prefer to fight for his spot in the long-term but go out on loan in the meantime to continue his development, but his plan seems to have shifted, likely in the wake of unlikely opportunities going forward.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Casadó’s agent, the famed Jorge Mendes, has offered his services to AC Milan, who are on the lookout for an out-and-out midfielder this summer.

Milan, who will be coached by former United boss Ruben Amorim, are said to be evaluating their options ahead of a Europa League campaign. Meanwhile, Barca are said to be asking for between €20million and €30million to sign their La Masia academy graduate this summer, and that could interest a number of clubs, including United.

Man Utd could be about to sacrifice Mount

An interesting factor is that AC Milan, according to MilanPress, are considering United’s Mount as a possible target as they sound out midfielders. Mount has battled injury issues aplenty at Old Trafford, but the 27-year-old did manage a steady campaign of last, making 23 Premier League appearances, and he was valued by Carrick.

Mount is under contract until 2028, having arrived on a £55million deal from Chelsea in 2023, but it’s unclear what United would get for him now.

But if the Red Devils want a clear opportunity to sign Casadó, they could move to upgrade on Mount by selling him to Milan, taking the Italians out of the picture for Casadó, and they could likely sign the young Spaniard without any surplus, with Mount surely commanding at least £25million to £30million.

It seems unlikely Mount will be a regular starter for the Red Devils next season, given the addition of Ederson and the likely addition of another starting midfielder, and in Casadó, described in an analytical piece by Breaking The Lines as having the potential to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, they can sign a player who is likely already of a similar level, and he still has time to develop at the age of 22. It also goes without saying that Mount is not typically reliable in terms of availability due to injuries, and selling him at a later date could become tricky.

Alan Shearer ranks among the most lethal goalscorers English football has ever produced. He remains the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, a record that looks unlikely to be broken anytime soon after Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich in 2023. He also found the net regularly for the Three Lions during his international career.

As clinical as the former Newcastle United striker was, it would not be right to give him sole credit for the remarkable numbers he posted. It undoubtedly helped that he was playing with some of the finest footballers around at the time. During his spell with England, Shearer lined up alongside some outstanding players and, in an article with The Sun, he named his ultimate XI made up of those former teammates.

Here’s a look at who he chose.

Goalkeeper – David Seaman

One of the finest goalkeepers England has produced, David Seaman represented the Three Lions with distinction, earning 75 caps across a 14-year international career. Whether playing for his country or clubs such as Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal, the shot-stopper was a dependable presence between the sticks and, given the other goalkeepers Shearer played with for England, it is easy to see why Seaman gets the nod here.

He may not quite sit alongside Gordon Banks or Peter Shilton at the very top of the list of England No.1s, but Seaman is not far away. There is little doubt that he was the standout English goalkeeper of his era.

Right-Back – Gary Neville

As Manchester United’s greatest right-back and one of England’s best in the position, it would have been a major shock had Shearer omitted Gary Neville from his XI. He is perhaps best known now for his work as a television pundit covering the beautiful game, but as entertaining as that has been, it does not compare to what he achieved on the football pitch.

A reliable leader and consistently trustworthy performer, Neville was central to several versions of a dominant United side. No matter how often Ferguson reshaped his squad, the Englishman remained a regular fixture on the right side of the defence.

Centre-Back – Tony Adams

Few defenders were as uncompromising as Tony Adams, making him an ideal figure to command the centre of a backline. The Arsenal legend was aggressive, determined and a superb leader. His ability to read the game was exceptional as well. Opposition forwards often found him extremely difficult to deal with and he rarely had much trouble keeping them quiet.

Adams was never known for speed of technical quality, but as his career developed, he also became increasingly comfortable bringing the ball out from the back as Arsene Wenger revolutionised the Gunners’ style of play. In that respect, he was ahead of his time. There is a reason he is viewed as one of the Premier League’s finest defenders.

Centre-Back – Gareth Southgate

Long before he became one of England’s most successful managers, guiding the Three Lions to two major tournament finals, Gareth Southgate made his name as a defender on the pitch. Sadly, his most remembered moment in an England shirt remains his missed decisive penalty as the nation were eliminated by Germany in the Euro 1996 semi-finals via penalty shootout.

Even so, beyond that painful episode, Southgate enjoyed a strong international career. He represented his country 57 times and was a dependable leader throughout. He is a solid choice for Shearer’s team. Grey never suited him though.

Left-Back – Stuart Pearce

With the nickname ‘Psycho’, Stuart Pearce was among the most intimidating and uncompromising players on the pitch whenever he featured. He was the kind of no-nonsense footballer that is rarely seen in the modern game, which is part of why he remains so fondly remembered today.

Getting on the wrong side of the former Nottingham Forest man could have been a serious problem for an opponent, but as a teammate, he was exactly the sort of player anyone would want beside them. Shearer evidently felt the same, selecting him in this team of his greatest England teammates.

Great penalty taker to boot.

Defensive Midfielder – Paul Ince

Rather than naming a conventional XI with wingers and two central midfielders, Shearer opted for a more inventive setup by including a defensive midfielder as part of a midfield diamond. That allowed him to pick Paul Ince and work him into the side. The former United midfielder was one of the major figures in the early Premier League years and is still regarded as one of United’s greatest ever central midfielders.

Ince spent eight years in and around the England setup and earned 53 caps during that time. He may have become slightly underrated with the passing of time, but Shearer clearly has not forgotten just how influential ‘the Guv’nor’ was.

Central Midfielder – David Beckham

Deciding not to use traditional wingers in his ultimate XI could easily have left some of England’s most gifted names out of Shearer’s team. His answer was simple: move David Beckham into central midfield. The former United star was most often deployed on the right flank, but he could also operate in the middle when required, and Shearer made use of that versatility.

Beckham is considered one of the greatest passers of the 21st century and one of the greatest set piece takers of all time. So even in a less natural role, it makes sense that Shearer has found a way to get him into the team.

Central Midfielder – Paul Scholes

Alongside Beckham, Shearer included a far more natural centre-mid in Paul Scholes. Not only was the position his natural home, but the ex-United star is widely considered one of the Premier League’s best ever midfielders. Frequently compared with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, Scholes is viewed by many as the greatest English midfielder of all-time.

Often shifted out wide to make room for Lampard and Gerrard, the United legend did not always get the ideal stage to show his full abilities for England. Still, if his Premier League performances were any indication, there is no doubt he could have made a major difference for the national side if used correctly.

Attacking Midfielder – Paul Gascoigne

A maverick in the truest sense, there has never really been anyone quite like Paul Gascoigne. His issues away from the pitch caused problems at points, but when he was focused and at his best, few players could match what the former Tottenham Hotspur man was able to do with the ball at his feet. He was a creative force.

With a player like Gascoigne in the side, there was always the possibility of something special happening, and Shearer clearly understood that. At his peak, very few attacking midfielders could get close to his level, especially among the players available during Shearer’s England career.

Striker – Teddy Sheringham

England had an impressive collection of forwards during the 1990s. In fact, there was so much attacking talent available that some very good players often had to settle for a place on the bench, or even find themselves omitted from squads entirely. One man who did earn plenty of minutes for the Three Lions, though, was Teddy Sheringham. The former Forest forward won 51 caps for his country, with much of his international career overlapping with Shearer’s own time in the squad.

Sheringham scored only 11 times for England but it was his ability to combine goals with linking play and creating opportunities for others – chiefly Shearer – which made him such a valuable commodity for the Three Lions.

Striker – Alan Shearer

Given his quality, it should not come as much of a surprise that Shearer decided to include himself in the team. During his spell with England, there was no better option to lead the line, and any side without him in it would clearly have been weaker. The former Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle striker scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for the Three Lions.

A return of close to one goal every other game is a strong record in international football, especially for Shearer’s era. It says plenty about Shearer’s extraordinary standards at club level that his England numbers can somehow look slightly modest by comparison.

Chelsea are said to have reached a full agreement to sign an experienced Premier League midfielder as Xabi Alonso begins to craft his new squad. The Blues are expected to spend this summer, likely agreeing with Alonso that he would be able to give this squad a new look when appointing him just before the end of last season.

Previous Blues bosses have had limited say on recruitment, but that particular strategy may have reached its end, with any big-profile manager like Alonso likely to demand at least partial control before putting pen-to-paper.

This Chelsea squad is bursting at the seams with talent and potential, but it lacks polished players who have the knowledge and experience to manage critical and difficult situations. But that’s something Alonso appears to be hoping to address immediately.

Xhaka heading to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are now said to be closing in on the signing of experienced Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, who played a key role in the Black Cats qualifying for Europe against the odds last season.

The 33-year-old is certainly in the back nine of his career, but he is proving he still has plenty to offer to the Premier League, and Alonso, who is said to have pushed for the deal, is hoping to lean into that.

Florian Plettenberg posted on X: “Granit Xhaka and Chelsea have already reached a full verbal agreement over a transfer. Personal terms have been fully agreed. #CFC Chelsea are already in contact with Sunderland. Xabi Alonso is pushing hard to sign Xhaka post Blick and various English media outlets.”

That follows reports that Xhaka was keen to complete the move to Chelsea, and equally keen to return to living London having spent seven years with Arsenal between 2016 and 2023.

The holding midfielder was under contract with Sunderland until 2028, but given his age, it’s likely to be an affordable fee as far as Chelsea are concerned. Despite his age, Xhaka made 34 appearances from a possible 38 for Sunderland in the Premier League last season, and he is also playing a key part in Switzerland’s World Cup campaign.

Xhaka is a leader on and off the pitch

Chelsea have sorely lacked experience in recent times, and there is little doubt in that being the inspiration behind the signing of Xhaka. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said of Xhaka last season: “To be competitive at that level, you need to own the performance on the pitch. Granit helps a lot because he can manage different elements on the pitch. he’s not alone but he gives hope and faith that we can win. He shows it, tells it in the dressing room.

“The target as a coach is this, you don’t want to be the main man. This is not my purpose. I want to give knowledge, power, responsibility to the squad because you have to manage the game in real time.

“We have other players on the pitch able to manage micro situations, not just Granit. We are able to improve our level, to be more flexible and more adaptable. He sets the standards, this is probably the most important thing. He is always at his top (level) so he doesn’t have to talk, just show. It’s very important.”

Alonso is already a big fan of Xhaka, describing him as a “key player” during the 2023/24 season at Bayer Leverkusen and suggesting he “makes my job on the bench much easier” because he is a “coach on the pitch”.