United make contact for “relentless” Brazilian midfield warrior, £26m offer could seal the deal – report

Manchester United’s hunt for midfield reinforcements has led them to reignite a move for Atalanta dynamo Ederson, according to a new report. Midfield is the priority The Red Devils are prioritising a long-overdue overhaul of their midfield unit this summer. Despite an impressive return to form under interim coach Michael Carrick, Casemiro‘s contract has not been renewed and the 34-year-old Brazilian will leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign. This will leave Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo as the only two senior options in the middle of the pitch, given that Bruno Fernandes has been redeployed in his rightful position as a No.10 by Carrick. However, Ugarte’s form since his £50.5 million switch from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 has been abject, with the Uruguay international failing to adapt to the physicality and speed of English football. Consequently, at least two new options in midfield will be signed this summer, with the potential for a third should Ugarte follow Casemiro through the exit door. The club’s primary targets are a cohort of the Premier League’s finest options – Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion). However, all four of these leading candidates will prove costly purchases, with fierce competition expected for each player from clubs elsewhere in the country. As such, United are also considering players on the continent for the second midfield signing – which has led to Ederson re-emerging as a serious option. United make contact United hold a long-standing interest in the 26-year-old Brazil international, who has established himself as one of Serie A’s best enforcers since arriving at Atalanta in 2022. He is described as a “relentless workhorse” capable of playing in a double pivot against three-man midfields, such is his work-rate. But the Italian side’s prohibitive price tag, worth as high as £65m, deterred the Red Devils from advancing a deal last year. However, a report relayed by The Peoples Person earlier this month revealed Atalanta are now willing to consider offers as low as £26m for their prized asset, given he only has twelve months remaining on his contract come the summer. Transfer expert Rudy Galetti now reports United have shortlisted Ederson as a “serious option” to bolster their midfield, and made contact to secure “new and updated information” over a deal. Atletico Madrid are considered a frontrunner for the Brazilian, having made numerous attempts to sign him in January, while Newcastle are also paying close attention to the situation in Bergamo. Final Thoughts A cut-price deal for a long-term target in a position of need is an attractive proposition for INEOS to contend with, particularly given Ederson’s profile – a physical box-to-box warrior just entering his prime – lends itself well to the Premier League. However, if competition from elsewhere drives the price far beyond the £25m mark, Ederson’s limitations in possession mean United should look elsewhere this summer. A player whose best attributes come without the ball should not be one a significant fee is shelled out for, under any circumstances. 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.