Manchester United have officially ended their pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson Silva, despite previously agreeing to a £35 million fee, with concerns raised over a potential issue with his knee. This decision comes as United continue to assess midfield options, with Roma’s Manu Kone now a key target according to reports.
The collapse of the Ederson deal, initially agreed before the World Cup, has been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, who stated the club will not revisit the transfer. Atalanta maintain there are no fitness concerns regarding the Brazilian international, but United have moved on.
United have already secured the signings of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50 million and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million, bolstering their midfield ahead of their return to the Champions League. Director of football Jason Wilcox is aiming to add a third midfielder, prioritizing a defensive-minded player.
Kone has emerged as a strong candidate, with United having held contacts with the player’s agents. While no official bid has been made to Roma, the club are reportedly open to a sale. Sources indicate United’s decision-makers have been impressed with Kone’s development over the past year, particularly his performances for Roma and France at the World Cup.
TEAMtalk reports that United believe Kone possesses the qualities they are looking for – physicality, defensive ability, and the capacity to break up play – and that the £51 million (€60m, $68.5m) asking price aligns with their budget. Kone is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford, and his camp have communicated this to United officials. Other midfield options, including Fulham’s Sander Berge, are also being considered, but Kone is currently viewed as a more serious target.
Securing three new midfielders for a combined fee of around £135 million would be considered a success for United, given the inflated transfer market this summer.
