After finishing the 2025/26 Premier League campaign on a strong note, Manchester United will be keen to channel that momentum into what’s shaping up to be a vital summer transfer window.
Having focused on strengthening their attack and defence over the last two years, United are now expected to turn their attention to midfield. Several signings are likely, particularly with veteran Casemiro leaving the club when his contract expires next month.
Finding a suitable replacement for the Brazilian, who ended up living up to his £70m price tag, will be no easy feat – but United may already have a near-perfect successor lined up at a relatively affordable cost. Here, Mirror Football examines the player who could become United’s first signing of the window.
Ederson (not that one) has emerged as a leading target for the Red Devils, who have identified a steely central midfielder as their top transfer priority. The Atalanta player, 26, has impressed in Serie A this season and helped his team finish seventh in the table.
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The Italian side are said to value him at about £38.3million, a fee United are willing to meet. It is also reported that the player has not only agreed terms in principle with Michael Carrick’s team but has also ‘paused’ discussions with other clubs in order to push through a move to Old Trafford.
Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino recently spoke about Ederson’s situation after the midfielder was left on the bench during their 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Friday night.
Palladino said: “Ederson out? It was a decision we agreed with the boy because there’s something going on in the transfer market. The fact that such a player is being followed by such a big club should be a source of pride.”
Ederson is not the only midfield option on United’s shortlist, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson also a major target. However, Forest are expected to demand more than £100m for the England international, and with Manchester City also monitoring him closely, any deal would likely be both costly and hard to complete.
View 2 ImagesEderson looks set to join Man Utd(Image: Getty Images)
For those unfamiliar with him, Ederson is predominantly a ball-winning midfielder but also has the athleticism and technical skill to play in a box-to-box role. He reads the game extremely well, regularly producing strong tackling and recovery numbers by stepping in to disrupt opposition transitions before they fully develop.
His high energy and upper-body strength make him tough to dispossess in midfield duels, while his first thought after winning the ball is usually to drive forward and start attacks.
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Many have compared Ederson to Arsenal’s Declan Rice, while others see traits of both Casemiro and former United favourite Ander Herrera. Either way, signing a player of Ederson’s profile – especially at such a reasonable price – would be a strong way for Manchester United to begin the summer transfer window.
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