Manchester United must sign a star midfielder; Sir Jim Ratcliffe's championship plan hinges on this move! Casemiro praises the Red Devils.

Manchester United's top priority in this summer's transfer plan is to strengthen the midfield by signing a new defensive midfielder to succeed Casemiro. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reveals that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's goal is to acquire at least one big-name player, not an unknown "lottery ticket" type.

Romano stated: "Manchester United wants to bring in important names, not small names. They intend to sign two midfielders this summer. Currently, Real Madrid does not plan to sell Aurélien Tchouaméni."

Another Manchester United correspondent, Andy Mitten, said: "Manchester United has finalized the shortlist for midfield reinforcements this summer. Several names have already circulated, such as Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba. However, sources insist that if negotiations progress, there are some lesser-known options in Spain that could surprise fans. United is now focused on a crucial step: determining which target players are actually willing to move."

Manchester United is just one step away from securing Champions League qualification for next season, which will help the club attract more top players. Of course, some players may still choose other top clubs; for example, the 23-year-old England international Anderson has been considered leaning towards Manchester City.

Regarding this, Casemiro, who is confirmed to leave this summer, has cheered for Manchester United, praising the club as the best in England and among the top three in the world. "Playing for Manchester United is special. In my view, Manchester United is the best team in England and ranks among the top three in world football."

Casemiro's words are obviously somewhat exaggerated, but if saying Manchester United is currently among the top three teams in England, that indeed matches reality. On the Premier League table, the Red Devils are precisely ranked third. On Sunday, after defeating Chelsea, United watched Manchester City's crucial victory over Arsenal in the title race and understood the gap between themselves and the top teams.

Next season, Manchester United will hope to have the opportunity to participate in similar matches. Owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to compete for the Premier League title before 2028, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary. INEOS has formulated the "150 Plan," with winning the 2027/28 season as the ultimate goal.

Manchester United has reason to believe they can achieve this goal; the team has improved this season, while Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool have slightly declined. Last season, Liverpool won the title with 84 points; this season, Arsenal and Manchester City can only reach up to 85 points, with no dominant team achieving over 90 points as in past seasons.

However, to reach championship-contending strength, Manchester United still has much work to do. First, they must bring in more players this summer to enhance squad depth. Their strong Premier League performance this season is partly due to focusing on a single competition, as they had no European matches and exited the League Cup and FA Cup early.

To reach Premier League title-contending level, Manchester United's starting lineup also needs improvement; full-backs, center-backs, and forwards require better bench depth, and midfield is the most critical area. For transfer chief Christopher Vivell and football director Jason Wilcox, whether they can contend for the title may depend on this summer's defensive midfielder signing.

If they cannot find a suitable replacement for Casemiro, Manchester United may not only fail to contend for the title but might not even reach this season's heights. This season, the Brazilian defensive midfielder scored many decisive goals for the team.

Conversely, if Manchester United makes the right choice, the most crucial piece of the championship plan puzzle will be in place. Despite much discussion about whether Michael Carrick will be appointed permanently, the No.6 position signing is the most significant decision Manchester United faces this summer.