Manchester United have reportedly made a shock move to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder and former Manchester City academy product Felix Nmecha.
Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim has failed to find the optimal midfield formula so far this season, and the club are believed to be hoping to part ways with the experienced Casemiro at the end of the term.
The ex-Real Madrid man was recently name-checked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as one of Man United's transfer mistakes, although he is supposedly planning to stay for the final year of his contract next season.
Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo's future is not set in stone either, as his sale could generate a significant profit to help Man United comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Ratcliffe has emphatically suggested that the club have no need to sell young talents to alleviate any financial concerns, but it has been reported that Mainoo is expected to turn down the chance to sign a new deal at Old Trafford amid links with Chelsea.
Man United to be quoted £40m for Nmecha deal?
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Should one or both of Mainoo and Casemiro depart, Man United will be expected to move for a replacement in the summer transfer window, and Bild claims that Dortmund's Nmecha is on their radar.
Last season's Champions League runners-up have endured a fall from grace this season, currently sitting 11th in the Bundesliga rankings and 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
Niko Kovac's side are in the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League - where they will face Barcelona - but failure to qualify for Europe next season could force them into selling at least one key asset.
Jamie Gittens, Gregor Kobel and Karim Adeyemi are among the chief candidates who could leave, but the German outlet claims that Nmecha is being 'suddenly chased' by Man United, who may have to pay £40m to prise him away from the Signal Iduna Park.
However, Dortmund are said to be particularly reluctant to lose the former Man City academy graduate, who remains under contract with the German giants until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Who is Man United-linked Nmecha?
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As a youth player, Nmecha spent no fewer than 13 years in the Man City system from 2008 to 2021, but the midfielder only made three senior appearances for the club before joining Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
However, Nmecha quickly made a name for himself in his homeland and earned a €30m (£25.2m) transfer to Dortmund in the summer of 2023, collecting a Champions League runners-up medal in his first season.
Formerly more of an attacking player, the 6ft 3in 24-year-old has transitioned into a defensive-minded role in recent seasons, and he boasts three goals and two assists in 27 appearances for Dortmund this season.
Nmecha's form for Wolfsburg earned him his first senior Germany cap in March 2023, and he scored his first goal for his country in a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw with Hungary in November.
Nmecha joined Wolfsburg at the same time as his older brother and fellow ex-City youngster, Lukas Nmecha, who still represents the Wolves.
Ben Knapton
