Uncertainty Surrounds Manchester United’s Move for Ederson
Manchester United’s efforts to sign midfielder Ederson from Serie A club Atalanta now face significant uncertainty. The two clubs reached an agreement on a £35m fee for the Brazilian on 2 June.
The original plan scheduled a medical for early July, ensuring the transfer concluded before the start of pre-season training. However, officials scrapped that timeline after the 27-year-old received a late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
United sources privately confirmed that the club expected to hold the medical once Brazil exited the tournament. Brazil subsequently suffered elimination against Norway. Despite recent progress on deals for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos and former Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow over the past 48 hours, there has been no official update regarding Ederson.
Reports from some sources suggest that medical tests identified an issue, with one contact telling BBC Sport that the deal is off. Conversely, sources at both Manchester United and Atalanta deny this, stating that no final decision has been made. Ederson reportedly remains in the United States.
If this transfer fails, it will represent the latest setback in a challenging summer for the Old Trafford club. Following a third-place finish last season, United prioritized midfield reinforcements to prepare for their return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
The club’s initial search for a new midfielder saw them pursue first-choice target Elliot Anderson. That pursuit ended when Nottingham Forest’s asking price for the England international rose to £116m, a cost United refused to meet.
United then turned their attention to Mateus Fernandes. A change in leadership at West Ham reduced their urgency to sell, and Tottenham’s subsequent entry into the race pushed the price to £85m. Although United matched that valuation, their offer included additional performance-related payments, and Fernandes ultimately opted for a move to Tottenham.
While United had hoped the Ederson deal would provide some stability to their recruitment plans, fans remain in limbo as they wait to see if the transfer will eventually proceed.