Manchester United are poised to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson Silva for a reported £38 million, marking the first major acquisition under manager Michael Carrick’s permanent leadership. The club are ‘advancing’ in talks with Atalanta, with personal terms already agreed upon with the Brazilian player, according to reports confirmed on Wednesday.
This move addresses a key area of need for United following the departure of Casemiro, and comes as the club aims to reshape its midfield options. United’s return to the Champions League is expected to aid in attracting top targets this summer, and the Ederson deal signals an ambitious window.
Ederson has been a consistent performer for Atalanta, establishing himself as a dynamic presence in midfield. While specific statistics were not provided, his arrival is intended to inject energy and quality into Carrick’s squad. The club is also reportedly considering further bolstering their midfield options, with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali emerging as a key target.
According to Italian source Tuttomercatoweb, United will ‘further pursue’ Tonali once the Ederson deal is finalised. The report suggests United are ‘close to reaching an agreement’ with Newcastle for the Italian international, who is valued at approximately £87 million. The pursuit of Tonali comes amid reports that Elliot Anderson of Newcastle is nearing a move to Manchester City, prompting United to seek alternative midfield reinforcements.
Beyond midfield, United are also expected to target reinforcements in several other positions, including left winger, left-back, and centre-half. Potential sales of players like Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund are expected to generate funds for these pursuits. The expiring contracts of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, and Tyrell Malacia have also freed up space on the wage bill. The club anticipates a transformative summer window, potentially involving up to eight new signings, though transfer reporter Ben Jacobs cautioned against fixating on a specific number, emphasizing the importance of securing value for money in the market.
