Manchester United have moved ahead of Atletico Madrid in the pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson dos Santos, according to reports from Matteo Moretto. The 26-year-old’s contract with Atalanta expires next summer, prompting the Italian club to consider a sale this year to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
Atletico Madrid had been heavily linked with Ederson for several months, with a potential deal discussed during the January transfer window. However, Sporting Director Mateu Alemany was unable to finalize an agreement, leading to the signings of Obed Vargas and Rodrigo Mendoza as midfield reinforcements following the departure of Conor Gallagher. Atletico had hoped to secure Ederson early to ward off interest from Premier League clubs.
Moretto reports that while Atletico Madrid had a contractual agreement in place with Ederson, offering him a salary of around €4 million per annum, Manchester United have now presented a more lucrative offer of €4.5 million per year. This increased financial incentive has seemingly swayed the player towards a move to Old Trafford.
Despite the progress made with Ederson, neither Manchester United nor Atletico Madrid have yet reached an agreement with Atalanta regarding a transfer fee. Atalanta are currently holding firm on a €45 million valuation for the Brazilian midfielder, a figure both clubs are reportedly reluctant to meet given his expiring contract. Moretto suggests that Ederson’s future hinges on Atalanta reducing their asking price.
Should Ederson join Atletico, he would likely compete with Johnny Cardoso for a starting position in midfield, with Pablo Barrios and Koke Resurreccion also vying for playing time. The addition of Ederson would provide manager Diego Simeone with further depth and quality in the center of the park. A move to Manchester United would likely see him integrated into a midfield undergoing a period of transition, potentially becoming a key component of their long-term plans.
