Manchester United Insists Ederson Deal Isn’t Dead Despite Failed Medical Reports

Two days of medical testing. Conflicting reports from Italy and England. A World Cup call-up thrown in the middle. The Ederson transfer saga has turned into one of the messier stories of this summer window, and nobody seems to agree on what’s actually happening.

Manchester United agreed to sign the Atalanta midfielder early in the window. Everyone expected an announcement shortly after. Then Brazil called him up for the World Cup, which pushed things back. Ederson did undergo a medical in the United States, but United wanted a more thorough exam and brought him to England for a second round that lasted two days.

On Friday, Fabrizio Romano and Italian outlets reported that the 27-year-old failed that medical. The reason cited was a long-term knee issue. Those reports also claimed Atalanta had been told about the results and were prepared to take him back.

But here’s where it gets hazy. United sources are pushing back hard.

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, the club is stressing that processes are ongoing for three possible signings — Ederson, Andrey Santos and Darlow — and that it’s not accurate to say the Ederson deal is off. Luckhurst added that there’s clearly a great deal of doubt about it, at the very least.

Alex Crook of talkSPORT also reported that United sources are denying the deal is dead. The Manchester Evening News wrote that the club does not consider the move to be off.

So who’s telling the truth? It’s possible both sides are right in a way. Maybe there were issues flagged during the medical, but United hasn’t made a final call yet. Maybe the arrival of Andrey Santos changes the math. Santos is younger and could fill a similar role, which might make United less desperate to push a complicated deal through.

United has already missed out on Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes this window. Michael Carrick wants at least two new midfielders as he rebuilds the engine room. So there’s still urgency here, regardless of what happens with Ederson.

For now, we’ve got two competing narratives and no official word from the club. That usually means one side is spinning and the other is waiting. We’ll find out which is which when the window closes.