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Casemiro has been the undisputable star in Real Madrid's midfield for years. Since his successful loan spell at Porto, the Brazilian has gradually stepped up to become one of Los Blancos’s best players. He is known for his excellent passing and defensive abilities. Hence, the 27-year-old easily wins many battles in the middle of the park before spraying passes to start an attack.
However, his dip in performance has been evident recently. The midfielder has failed to play the full 90 minutes in his last 4 matches and received the first red card of his career in a clash against Valladolid. It is no secret that his declining performance has invited many criticisms, and the La Liga giants might want to look for replacements for him.
Now let’s take a look at 3 galactico-level players, who Los Blancos could consider to replace the Brazilian.
#1 Saul Niguez
Saul Niguez is one of the most wanted starlets in Europe right now. At just 24 years of age, the Spaniard has got plenty of experiences as a regular starter for Atletico Madrid. A complete package, Saul is not your typical midfielder as he could play equally well either as a winger or a defensive midfielder.
He has been touted as a replacement for Fernandinho at Manchester City while other European giants such as Barcelona and Juventus have also been chasing him. Despite being a complete midfielder, Saul mostly known for his all-around defensive works.
He has similar defensive stats and goal amount to Casemiro. Hence, the young Spaniard could fill most of the Brazilian’s duty at Real Madrid for many years to come. His release clause stands at an eye-watering €150 million and, Los Blancos might be willing to try their best to lower his price.
Also, snatching Saul from Atletico would enable Real to get one over their local rivals.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips, EPL Transfer News
#2 N’golo Kante
N’golo Kante is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world right now. He could easily slot as an undisputable anchorman at any team. His vital role for France's 2018 World Cup triumph already served as a testament to his prowess. Despite Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri playing him out of his natural position, the Frenchman is still performing well overall this season.
The 27-year-old has even improved significantly in terms of productivity in his new position. He has now been directly involved in 7 goals for Chelsea in the league, while last season Kante only engaged in 2.
His defensive stats are slightly less than Casemiro but that could be understandable because he has played in a more offensive role in the ongoing campaign. A hardworking midfielder with endless energy, the Frenchman would surely make Casemiro sweat over his future if Madrid decide to buy him alongside Hazard in the summer.
#3 Allan Marques
Allan Marques might not be as famous as Kante or Saul. However, he has been pretty much a monster for Napoli and has recorded some interesting stats this season. The Brazilian is known as a dynamic and physically strong midfielder with extraordinary ball-winning capabilities.
He had amassed an average of 6.3 tackles in 6 Champions League games, including 11 tackles in one game against Liverpool at Anfield. This stat is nearly three times Casemiro’s average amount of tackles in the same number of appearances in the competition.
The 28-year-old has also outshined his fellow countryman’s defensive stats in the domestic league. Apart from his unquestionable defending ability, Allan could do proper ball distribution and has completed an average of 89 per cent of his passes in all competitions.
With this skill set, it could be safe to say that the Napoli star would be the defensive upgrade for Casemiro. However, the Italian giant might not accept an offer of less than €100 million for the anchorman.
