Casemiro tells Ancelotti he wants to leave, Chelsea set to seal Aubameyang deal

Manchester United are hopeful of finalising a deal to sign Casemiro within the next few days after the Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed the midfielder has told him he wants to leave.

The Times has learnt that a fee of €60 million (£51 million) plus another €10 million in add-ons has been agreed with Real. Casemiro, 30, is expected to sign a four-year contract with the option of a further year included and the Brazilian is expected to fly in for a medical within 48 hours.

Ancelotti said on Friday: “We’ve spoken this morning. He wants to try a new challenge, a new opportunity. I understand this, also the club does, and because of what he’s done for this club and for this team, we need to be respectful of this. There are negotiations between the clubs. He is still a Real Madrid player but it looks like now he is willing to depart.

The signing of Casemiro would be a boost to United manger Erik Ten Hag’s plans to strengthen United’s midfield as a move for his No 1 target, Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, has stalled.

Casemiro would become the fourth signing by United’s new Dutch manager, after the arrivals of Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martínez. The player signed a contract until 2025 with Real last year and it is thought that the Spanish giants were not initially keen to allow him to go. However, a deal is expected to be sealed in days after the player told Carlo Ancelotti, the Real coach, of his desire to leave.

It is understood that Casemiro has been told he could receive a significant increase to his £9 million-a-season salary with United and the lengthy contract, rare for players in their thirties, appeals to him.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are optimistic that a deal for the Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can be reached as further talks are scheduled this week.

The 33-year-old former Arsenal captain is understood to be open to a move to Stamford Bridge but has not yet reached a decision on his future.

Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea head coach, wants to be reunited with Aubameyang, with whom he worked at Borussia Dortmund, as he and the club’s interim sporting director, Todd Boehly, look to sign a striker before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Chelsea hope that Aubameyang will be part of a late flurry of signings that would include the Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana, the Everton forward Anthony Gordon and Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona midfielder.

Barcelona are believed to value Aubameyang, who joined them on a free transfer in January, at £21 million and are looking to offload a forward this summer after signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.

Xavi Hernández, the head coach, does not want to lose Aubameyang and has told the Gabon forward that he is part of his plans, yet the Catalan club may look to cash in on an opportunity to reduce their inflated wage bill.

Aubameyang scored 13 goals in half a season last term but his cost to the club has increased because Arsenal supplemented his salary payments for only the first six months of his time at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea are hopeful that Aubameyang would be one of two signings from Barcelona this summer as the west London club remain confident of landing De Jong.

Agreeing a fee for the Holland midfielder has not been a concern but Barcelona was De Jong’s childhood club and he has been unwilling to leave. Barcelona have told the 25-year-old that he will have to take a salary cut, and threatened legal action, unless he departs.

De Jong wants to play in the Champions League, which leaves Chelsea confident that Stamford Bridge would be his first option if he does agree to leave.