Manchester United Close to Signing Ederson from Atalanta
Manchester United are edging towards their first major midfield signing of the summer, with Atalanta’s Ederson now on the brink of a move to Old Trafford.
The window has not even officially opened yet. United, though, are already moving as if it has.
Ederson says yes, United close in
Fresh from securing a return to the Champions League for the first time in three years, the club’s new INEOS-led structure has zero interest in a slow start to the market. Central midfield has been ringed in red ink, and Ederson sits at the top of that early list.
Reports in England this week claimed a £38m fee had already been agreed with Atalanta. That, according to Fabrizio Romano, is premature — but not by much.
On his YouTube channel, the Italian reporter laid out the state of play. Personal terms? Done.
“The agreement, Manchester United with Ederson is done. The player said yes to Man United. The contract is ready, it's a five-year deal,” Romano said, describing the Brazilian as “world-class”.
The hold-up lies not with the player, but between the clubs. Atalanta and United are haggling over the final details of a package worth around €45m, with payment structure and instalments still on the table.
Despite interest from elsewhere, Ederson has made his stance clear, as relayed by Romano: he is waiting for United. The 26-year-old wants Old Trafford, and he is prepared to sit tight while the last pieces fall into place.
Romano summed it up bluntly: Ederson is “very, very, very close” to becoming a Manchester United player. One final green light from United’s hierarchy is all that remains.
Midfield rebuild gathers pace
This move is not a one-off. It is the opening act of a wider reset.
United’s return to Europe’s top table comes with a warning label. The last time they played in the Champions League in the competition’s old format, they fell at the group stage. With the expanded schedule and the demands of another Premier League campaign after finishing third behind Manchester City and Arsenal, depth in midfield is non-negotiable.
INEOS view the centre of the pitch as a priority zone. Even if Ederson signs, he is not expected to be the sole answer or the direct heir to Casemiro. That role, if United get their way, belongs to a different profile altogether.
Tonali, Tchouameni and a crowded shortlist
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali has surged up United’s list of targets. Reports in Italy claim Michael Carrick pushed hard for the Italy international even before the Ederson pursuit reached this advanced stage, such is his admiration for the Magpies midfielder.
Italian outlets now suggest United are also closing in on an agreement for Tonali, another 26-year-old who has emerged as a leading candidate for the deeper role.
Above all of them, though, sits a more ambitious name. Romano has confirmed that Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni is regarded inside Old Trafford as the “dream” midfield signing. Whether that dream can survive Madrid’s stance is another matter. His situation at the Bernabeu, complicated by a high-profile bust-up with teammate Federico Valverde — himself mentioned in reports as a United target — adds intrigue, but no guarantees.
United are casting the net wide. According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Carrick’s number one target is Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, but the England midfielder currently appears more likely to join Manchester City.
West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes has also come into focus. With the London club dropping into the Championship, the Brazilian looks set to move on, and United are tracking that situation closely.
A new spine, or another false dawn?
For now, Ederson is the deal closest to the finish line. A five-year contract agreed, a fee all but settled, a player openly waiting for the call.
United have been here before: on the cusp of a midfield overhaul, talking about control, intensity, and the need to match Europe’s elite. This time, with Champions League football back on the calendar and INEOS driving the strategy, the stakes feel sharper.
If Ederson is only the first piece, what will this midfield look like by the end of August — and will it finally be strong enough to carry United through both England and Europe?
