‘Out of this world’ – Man United told why they should agree £40m Ederson transfer

Manchester United are looking to bolster their midfield in the summer transfer window with Champions League football on the horizon

Manchester United are broadening their horizons this summer as they look to strengthen. It is understood Atalanta’s defensive midfielder Ederson is on the Reds’ radar after Atletico Madrid have seemingly hijacked a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes. Atletico had been interested in Ederson in January.

However, talks between the two clubs broke down and the La Liga side have since turned their attention to Gomes. This has opened the door for United to make a move for Ederson. The Reds are still weighing up the pros and cons of a player who has made 178 appearances in Italy.

He is expected to cost £40m thanks to his contract expiring at the end of next season. But with United looking to sign two midfielders, or three if Manuel Ugarte leaves, they are unlikely to rush to sign Ederson if he does not represent good value for money.

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So with this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at what United could be getting if they agree to move for Ederson.

Style of play

Ederson has been utilised as a holding midfielder at Atalanta. Alongside their captain Marten de Roon, the 26-year-old has flourished and become a key asset for the Serie A club. However, he is not a direct replacement for Casemiro.

While he is known for being combative, Ederson is unlikely to favour a crunching tackle like the Brazil icon. Instead, he will want to carry the ball up the pitch for United, look for those progressive forward passes and try to create key opportunities for the attackers.

If United want someone to anchor the midfield to allow Kobbie Mainoo to press forward, Ederson is perhaps not the man for the job.

High praise

Atalanta’s previous managers have not tended to sing the praises of Ederson in interviews. The job he is doing has sometimes slipped under the radar but former England head coach Fabio Capello was keen to praise the midfielder last season.

“I still believe Inter are the favourites, but [Gian Piero] Gasperini can certainly play his cards,” Capello said in December 2024. “And he has a midfielder worthy of a top European club: Ederson. He’s out of this world with his ability to combine running, physicality, technique, and intelligence.”

Happy with the attention

That same year, Ederson was linked with Newcastle and Juventus. While he did not express a desire to leave, he was happy to have the attention of some of European football’s bigger clubs.

“Being looked for by big clubs like Juventus? This is normal when the transfer market opens, for some situations to come up,” he explained.

“It happened in Brazil, it happened when I was at Salernitana. For me it’s better this way, it means that I’m doing well and that there are many people watching me.

“It always happens with the market, but the most important thing is to do well at Atalanta and I’m doing very well here.”