Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro by placing their first bid for the player on Thursday.

The Red Devils have been linked with the UEFA Champions League winner with a deal considered too tempting to ignore by the Brazilian’s camp. Reports say that Manchester United offered the 30-year-old a salary that would make him one of the highest earners at Old Trafford.

Casemiro joined Real Madrid in 2013 and still has a contract till 2025; the Los Blancos are not ready to stand in his way if he decides to leave for the Premier League side after winning three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Casemiro is one of the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2022, but his place in the Real Madrid squad is under threat from French youngster Aurelien Tchouameni who joined the Los Blancos this summer.

The Brazilian international was away from Real Madrid for the 2014/2015 season on loan at Portuguese side Fc Porto. However, he returned to Madrid when the club activated his buy-back clause.

Overall he has made 222 appearances and scored 24 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid. Casemiro became a target for Manchester United when their target for Andrien Rabiot failed to materialize.

Manchester United have also been linked to Ajax forward Anthony, but the Dutch giants have rejected the Red Devils’ bid.

Man United on Wednesday made an €80m offer for Ajax winger Antony, but as Ajax intends to keep 22yr old Brazil international, the bid was turned down.

Led by Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have endured a dismal start to the Premier League season, having lost their first two games.

First, it was a 2-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford on opening day and then a 4-0 bashing at Brentford the next week.

Currently, Manchester United are at the bottom of the Premier League table with no points scored.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu