Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Atalanta for Ederson.
Talks are in the final stages over a fee in the region of £38m. Sources expect the fee to be broken down into a £35m guaranteed payment plus £3m in add-ons. A full agreement for the midfielder could be reached by the end of the week.
United Pounce as Atletico Look Elsewhere
Ederson had looked destined for Atletico Madrid but a pivot from the Spanish club towards Wolves’ Joao Gomes has opened the door for United, who are looking to replace the outgoing Casemiro.
Atalanta’s manager Raffaele Palladino confirmed last week that Ederson remained an unused substitute in their draw against Fiorentina because a “major club” is following him.
Other Midfield Targets Being Considered
United continue to do background work on other midfield targets, including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.
Ederson’s Serie A Statistics
This season, Ederson has managed 59 total tackles, 28 interceptions, and won possession in the defensive third of the pitch 62 times in Serie A. That puts him in the top 15 across all categories in his position.
He has only played two through balls all season and 371 in the final third. Casemiro has managed 13 and 436 respectively.
Atalanta’s Perspective
While they appreciate what he brings to the table, Atalanta fans aren’t cut up about potentially losing him.
The general consensus is that anything about £40m would represent incredible value for a player they believe they can replace at a cheaper price.
It is easy to see why a move for Ederson appeals to the Old Trafford hierarchy. Certain financial restraints still remain.
When other targets could cost in excess of £100m, a player on your shortlist worth less than half of that is bound to create intrigue.
A full agreement for the midfielder could be reached by the end of the week.