Man Utd are very close to signing two players for £140m, including one that Michael Carrick really wants.
Manchester United are getting close to completing two big transfers worth around £140 million, just after making Michael Carrick their full-time head coach. Carrick stepped in as interim boss back in January after Ruben Amorim left, and since then, he’s done a fantastic job. The 44-year-old led United to finish third in the league, securing a spot in next season’s Champions League by winning 11 of his 16 games.
Because of this success, United gave Carrick a new two-year contract that runs until summer 2028, with an option for a third year. The club shared the news on Friday morning, right after Manchester City announced Pep Guardiola would be leaving after ten years in charge.
Qualifying for the Champions League early meant United could take their time to focus on the summer transfer window. Last season was tough since they missed out on European football under Amorim, which limited the players they could bring in. But now things are looking up, and they’re already deciding on key players to sign.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Manchester United want to strengthen their midfield, which has been a weak spot for several years. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo have played well recently, but Casemiro is leaving this summer on a free transfer. The squad also lacks depth, and Manuel Ugarte’s future is uncertain as he hasn’t been consistent during his two years at Old Trafford.
The club has reportedly targeted Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Atalanta’s Ederson as their main options for central midfield. Atalanta had asked for €70 million for Ederson last summer but dropped the price to €30 million by January. With only a year left on his contract, Atalanta risks losing Ederson for free soon. The 27-year-old has played three times for Brazil but wasn’t picked for their World Cup team, which might make the transfer easier.
There’s confidence that both deals will happen, especially since Tonali has been a long-term target. The Italy international has been important for Newcastle this season, but the team faces a tough battle to qualify for the Conference League. Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says there’s a “good chance” the Tonali deal will go through, with a price around €100 million or €75-80 million plus bonuses.
Carrick is said to really want Tonali as his first signing as the permanent United head coach and wants the club to focus on that move before going after Ederson.