Manchester United is finally closing in on its first midfield signing of the summer. Brazilian midfielder Ederson is expected to travel to England this week for the second and final part of his medical, according to reports. If everything goes smoothly, an official announcement could land as early as this weekend.
The 27-year-old already completed part one of his medical with Brazil’s national team staff while the Seleção was in the United States for the World Cup. But United wants to run its own tests before signing off. That’s standard procedure for a deal this size.
A Long Time Coming
This transfer has been messy from the start. United’s summer window so far has been a disaster. INEOS fumbled pursuits of Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, then let Tottenham hijack a move for Mateus Fernandes. The club is reportedly in panic mode now, even willing to overpay for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott despite the Cherries refusing to sell.
For a while it looked like the Ederson deal might fall apart too. Rumors surfaced that negotiations had broken down entirely. But that apparently wasn’t the case. The Atalanta midfielder has always been viewed as the cornerstone of United’s midfield rebuild, according to TEAMtalk. His athleticism, ball-carrying ability, and versatility made him a priority target for the club.
Casemiro, who is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, actually recommended Ederson to United brass. That’s an interesting twist considering the Brazilian veteran is essentially picking his own replacement.
World Cup Delay
Ederson was a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad and made two cameo appearances off the bench, including in the heartbreaking Round of 16 loss to Norway. That tournament run pushed back his medical and delayed the move. But now that Brazil is out, United can finally get this thing across the finish line.
The midfielder isn’t seen as a flashy game-changing signing. He’s more of a steady, reliable presence who can win tackles, carry the ball forward, and play multiple roles in midfield. For a team that’s been chaotic in the middle of the park, that might be exactly what they need.
Once Ederson is officially signed, INEOS still has work to do. Aurelien Tchouameni remains the dream target to fully replace Casemiro, but that deal is far from done. United’s summer hinges on whether they can get both midfielders through the door before the window slams shut.
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