What Ederson’s move means for Man Utd’s transfer plans this summer
As Manchester United prepares to build a team that can compete on all fronts next season, they’re planning to make a big statement by signing three midfielders, according to reports.
With the club back in next season’s Champions League after a year without European football, the team at Old Trafford will have more power in negotiations in the coming weeks.
Last week, football finance expert Rob Wilson said United could spend between £250 million and £300 million this summer, giving us a sneak peek into their possible transfer plans under Michael Carrick.
Getting ready to handle four competitions will be a top priority. Casemiro’s likely departure will leave a gap in midfield, but United seem to be acting quickly.
They’ve already agreed to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with a fee that could reach around £37 million, according to The Guardian. It sounds like agreeing on personal terms won’t be a problem.
There are also many other names linked to United, like Aurelien Tchouameni, Mateus Fernandes, Carlos Baleba, and Elliot Anderson, though Anderson might prefer a move to Manchester City.
Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic shared on the YouTube channel Stretford Paddock that the Ederson deal is “in the final stages.” When asked if this means United will go for three midfielders instead of two, he said, “Yeah, I think so.”
He explained that signing Ederson first makes sense because he only has a year left on his contract, so Atalanta needs to sell him rather than lose him for nothing. This deal sets a price range for how much United might pay for other midfielders.
Whitwell added that starting with a lower-cost signing like Ederson helps keep the door open for other signings without pushing prices too high. Plus, with John Murtough, the former Manchester United football director, now at Atalanta, they have a good relationship to get the deal done smoothly.
He also pointed out that Ederson may not be the star midfielder this summer but is a smart first move.
On Thursday, iNews also reported that United aims to sign three midfielders this summer, with Ederson, Mateus Fernandes, Carlos Baleba, and Sandro Tonali all mentioned as possible targets.