Manchester United legend claims Casemiro's signing was 'not what they need' under Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are looking to sign multiple players before the end of the window after securing fifth signing of the season in Casemiro.

The Brazilian player comes at a time when Manchester United are in dire need of midfielders.

The club spent a lot of the summer chasing Frenkie de Jong, although that deal now seems almost dead in the water.

When questioned on the signing of Casemiro, Red Devil legend Dwight Yorke told Lord Ping: “Casemiro is a great player with pedigree, but he clearly wasn’t the first choice pick otherwise United would have signed him in June.

“Perhaps the player wanted a new challenge and saw United as a great opportunity... I don’t think he is the type of player United need at the moment, but United are not getting top targets through the door so I imagine they’ve been a bit creative and signed the best player they could have done.”

Manchester United’s ability to sign the world’s top players has significantly decreased in recent seasons, majorly due to leave position finishes and a lack of consistent Champions League football.

“United used to be able to pick the best players in Europe, but City and Liverpool are more attractive clubs for players these days,” Yorke said.

“Not qualifying for the Champions League, not playing expansive and flamboyant football, has contributed to United missing out on players. I feel like we've been playing catch-up for far too long.

Casemiro presented at Old Trafford. (Man Utd)

“The level of players that we’ve been able to attract is one level below elite over the last few seasons. That needs to change.”

Winning the Premier League title is an ultimate goal of Erik ten Hag, although despite the club finishing among the top three a few times, there has not been a significant title challenge since 2013.

Speaking on Premier League challenges, Yorke said: “In terms of the United challenging for the league title, we haven’t done that for a while and I don’t think the recruitment has helped.

“It seems like the decline has been allowed to snowball and every year it has made recruitment more and more difficult.”

The Premier League has been greatly dominated by Manchester City and Liverpool over the last five seasons, with the former strengthening their strike force with the signing of Erling Haaland.

Haaland was very closely linked to a Manchester United move in 2020, with at-the-time manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flying out to speak with his fellow countryman on multiple occasions, although Haaland eventually chose to sign for Borussia Dortmund.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City. (Alamy)

“Sadly the one player that I felt United should have signed and could have got a few years ago signed for City this summer, Erling Haaland,” Yorke proclaimed.

“I've said that for a long time. I think United should have broken the bank for him three years ago and taken him from Salzburg.

“You look at that decision and see that as a lost opportunity because I feel like the club has been lacking a potent number 9 for a long time now.”