- Manchester United in running to sign Ederson
- Midfielder expected to depart Serie A in summer
- Atletico Madrid considered frontrunners
Manchester United are considering hijacking Atletico Madrid’s pursuit to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
The Red have been linked to a host of names in the build-up to this summer’s transfer window. Elliot Anderson is seen as United’s primary target. However, other names such as Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, Mateus Fernandes and Adam Wharton have also been mentioned.
Most of the names labelled as Casemiro‘s successors currently play in the Premier League. The one name that does not is Atalanta’s Ederson.
The 26-year-old is primed for a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs. He has been busy for Raffaele Palladino’s side this season, featuring in 34 games across all competitions.
Ederson is the Overseas Option
According to TEAMtalk, both Manchester United and Arsenal are eyeing moves for the Brazilian.
The Reds were first reported to have had interest in the midfielder in the summer of 2024. The club opted to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain instead for an initial £42m.
The upcoming summer is the Serie A side’s only chance of getting a considerable fee for their star. Ederson’s contract runs out in 2027, and he has no intention of signing a new deal.
The major barrier for both Premier League clubs is that the player has agreed terms with the La Liga side. On 2 April, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that Atletico Madrid are pushing for the player, with no fee agreed yet. Diego Simeone’s side signed Ademola Lookman from the Serie A side in the winter window, and they are shopping in Bergamo once again.
La Dea want a fee closer to €50m for their man, as opposed to the €40m that Atletico are prepared to pay. This could be an opportune time for an English powerhouse to hijack the deal.
Europe Beckons for Brazilian
The financial gap between the Premier League and La Liga remains a major hurdle for Atletico Madrid. Having submitted a bid that falls short of Atalanta’s valuation, Atletico now face the threat of being financially outmuscled by either Manchester United or Arsenal. For the Red Devils, this is the perfect opportunity to secure the services of a player they have followed for years.
United are on a level playing field, with the Champions League expected to be on offer for players next season. It would mark the first time since 2023/24 that the club have played in the elite competition.
Unlike Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Ederson arrives with proven Champions League experience. He was instrumental in Atalanta’s run to the Round of 16 this season, where they were eventually knocked out by Bayern Munich. He would also cost less than Anderson, who commands a ‘British tax’ price tag. Moreover, signing him could become an auction between United and Manchester City.
For United, the focus must shift from overspending to making “smart” acquisitions. That is the trend that the club have followed under INEOS so far. Signing Ederson at a cut-price represents a clear shift without compromising on quality. However, with Atletico at the head of the table, time is rapidly running out to get the deal over the line.
