United in pole position to hijack Spanish giants’ move for midfield dynamo with incredible contract offer – report

Manchester United secured their return to the Champions League with a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. This marks a remarkable turnaround under Michael Carrick from the dark days of the Ruben Amorim era, and INEOS have already begun preparations for the next season. The Red Devils will be expected to compete on all four fronts, and for that, the co-owners need to get their midfield recruitment spot on. As things stand, United are likely to be priced out of a move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, with Manchester City in pole position. United’s hunt for the perfect midfielder There are doubts about Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton’s suitability alongside Kobbie Mainoo while Sandro Tonali of Newcastle seems to prefer a return to Italy. This has forced the 20-time English league champions to look beyond the Premier League, and Ederson of Atalanta, who has been a long-term target for the club, has reemerged as a genuine option. Just a few months ago, it seemed Atletico Madrid had beaten the three-time Champions League winners in the race to sign the Brazilian midfielder. But as revealed by journalist Matteo Moretto, United are currently in pole position to land the 26-year-old. Ederson hijack on the cards Their contract offer of €4.5 million per year, which roughly translates to £75,000 per week has left Atletico in the dust. Should INEOS be serious about getting their man, he is there for the taking but no agreement with Atalanta yet to be reached. “Manchester United would be ready to offer Ederson a net salary of €4.5 million per year. Arsenal has also inquired about him. “United has surpassed Atlético with its contract proposal. However, no club has yet reached an agreement with Atalanta. United is the club with the greatest financial room.” As relayed by The Peoples Person, United are keen to sign as many as three midfielders in the summer, and Ederson, whose contract ends in 2027, fits the bill as a decent squad option. Feature image Francesco Scaccianoce via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25