Manchester United are planning further midfield reinforcement following the agreement to sign Atalanta’s Ederson Silva, while Manuel Ugarte is set to depart Old Trafford this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The club confirmed a deal for Ederson is in place, with the 26-year-old midfielder arriving as a replacement for Casemiro, who will also leave the club.
INEOS, United’s co-owners, have prioritized strengthening the midfield, and Ederson is considered one of the top players in Serie A. Romano reports that United ‘plan’ to add at least one more midfielder to the squad, potentially two depending on circumstances. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion have been identified as potential targets by sources at TEAMtalk.
Ugarte, who joined United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 for a reported £50.5 million, has not established himself as a regular starter under manager Michael Carrick. Romano states that Ugarte will definitely leave the club alongside Casemiro, freeing up space in the squad and potentially generating funds for further investment.
In addition to the midfield changes, goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to return to Manchester United for pre-season training under Carrick. However, Trabzonspor, where Onana spent last season on loan, are keen to re-sign him on another loan deal until 2027, and discussions are expected to take place between the clubs and the player’s representatives. These moves signal a period of significant squad restructuring at Old Trafford as the club prepares for the upcoming season.
Securing Ederson’s signature provides a long-term solution in midfield, while the departure of Ugarte allows Carrick to further refine his squad. The potential addition of another midfielder will further bolster United’s options in a crucial area of the pitch.
