This season it would not be a stretch to suggest that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has been better than Ballon d'Or winner Rodri.

While the Spaniard has struggled with fitness, United's midfield enforcer has only swatted away the doubters with ease. He's been one of the best players in the Premier League this term and has nine goals to his name.

For context, it's the Brazilian's best campaign in front of goal throughout his entire career. However, aged, 34, he is now approaching the end of his playing days at Old Trafford.

Supporters have chanted for "one more year" but that just is not a distinct possibility anymore. He'll be departing the north of England this year and will need replacing.

How on earth do you do that? Well, it will not be easy for Jason Wilcox and Co.

Man Utd close in on signing a Casemiro replacement

It's widely expected that the United recruitment team will aim to bring in two midfielders this summer. Indeed, Casemiro is not the only player set to depart with Manuel Ugarte also on the chopping block.

It is thought that one of those replacements will be a mega-money addition. Elliot Anderson is still the Red Devils' number one target but they face intense competition from Manchester City to secure his services.

Carlos Baleba is another option for United and they have reportedly had personal terms in place dating back to last summer. Yet, his numbers have dwindled in the last year and there is a sense that there are better options on the market.

One of those could be Atalanta midfielder Ederson who is set to leave Serie A behind this summer. Previously, the Brazilian had agreed personal terms with Atletico Madrid but they had been unwilling to pay the £39m asking price required to get a deal over the line.

However, it would now appear that United are homing in on his signature. Reports from Italy note that Ederson has now also agreed personal terms with Michael Carrick's side on a contract until 2031.

It's further reported that, as a result, an offer that matches Atalanta's required price tag is set to be launched soon in an attempt to close out the deal.

Why Ederson could be Man Utd's own Rodri

There have been several reasons why United have been so far behind their city rivals over the last decade, not least due to the manager in the dugout.

However, Rodri has also played a colossal part in helping the Citizens race clear of every other side in English football.

The Spaniard may well have struggled for fitness ever since returning from an ACL problem but he is easily one of the best midfielders we have ever seen. You don't win a Ballon d'Or for no reason.

Once upon a time, it was United's midfielders who were vying for major individual awards. Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were a delight to watch in the middle of the park.

The likes of Sofyan Amrabat, Donny van de Beek and Ugarte, on the other hand, have not been a delight. Well, this summer, it feels like things could change.

Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes are two of the finest in the land and they could complete the puzzle this summer with a move for someone like Anderson. Yet, in Ederson, they could actually land a very similar player to Rodri, just without the Ballon d'Or-winning potential.

Celebrated as the "strongest defensive midfielder in the world" by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia, it's clear to see why when you analyse the numbers. While his smaller stature means he is not particularly great in aerial situations, he is winning the exact same number of ground duels as Rodri is this season.

What the pairing are exceptional at is screening and protecting the defence. They can contribute in the final third, as their chance creation metric demonstrates. However, first and foremost, they are sitting midfielders, two players who enjoy shuttling and mopping up loose balls.

Both drawing a similar number of fouls and completing a similar number of passes, it shows that they are both incredibly tidy on the ball and use their bodies well to draw contact from the opposition.

Described as a "machine" by reporter Carlo Garganese, if United are looking for a budget midfielder this summer, there are very few better ones on the market than Ederson.