Manchester United have confirmed a £35m (40.5m euros) deal with Italian club Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, marking the club's first signing since Michael Carrick took over as head coach.
The 26-year-old Brazilian is set to sign a four-year contract with an option to extend it by another year. However, the transfer is still subject to a medical examination and should be finalized in early July before United resumes pre-season training.
This acquisition will also entail additional payments of around £3.9m (€4.5m). It marks the beginning of what could be up to three central midfield additions this summer, as Carrick aims to strengthen this area following Casemiro's departure. Ederson has earned three international caps and was included in Brazil’s expanded 55-man World Cup squad but did not make it into manager Carlo Ancelotti’s final selection.
Potential future signings
United have shown interest in West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, despite his current team seeking significant profit on their investment from last summer when they acquired him from Southampton for over £40m. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest has also caught United’s attention; however, he seems more inclined towards joining Manchester City instead.
In addition to bolstering their midfield, United are scouting for a left-sided player and striking support for Benjamin Sesko. Newcastle's Lewis Hall is among those being considered. The composition of their goalkeeping team remains uncertain at this point. Radek Vitek might be part of it after an impressive season on loan at Bristol City where he won all player-of-the-year awards. Vitek expressed his desire for regular playtime during an interview with BBC Sport earlier this year which suggests that he might not return to Old Trafford as a backup for Senne Lammens.
Former first-choice Andre Onana has been given the green light to find another club. However, meeting his wage demands could pose a challenge considering the pay rise he will receive from United's qualification for next season's Champions League. Ederson has demonstrated versatility in various central midfield roles during his tenure at Atalanta, scoring 16 goals in 180 games across all competitions.
Under minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Michael Sansoni, United have overhauled their data analysis operation. The former high-ranking Mercedes Formula 1 performance engineer has played a crucial role in identifying suitable targets alongside director of football Jason Wilcox. Carrick confirmed his involvement in recruitment meetings since being named Ruben Amorim's temporary successor earlier this year.
