Manchester United’s summer midfield shopping isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.
The club already has an agreement with Chelsea for Andrey Santos, a 22-year-old Brazilian who’s expected to undergo a medical soon. But there’s a hitch in the works for a second midfield target, Atalanta’s Ederson, and it has nothing to do with his talent.
Ederson was all set to join United before the World Cup — a fee was agreed with Atalanta, around €45 million. Then Brazil called him up as a late addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. That’s where things got weird.
Since then, reports have swirled about concerns from an initial medical exam. On Wednesday, journalist Ben Jacobs told The United Stand that United will run a full battery of tests on Ederson before deciding whether to pull the trigger on the deal. And if those results don’t pass muster, they’ve got a Plan B.
Enter Manu Kone
AS Roma’s French midfielder Manu Kone is the name that keeps popping up. According to Jacobs, United have already made inquiries about the 25-year-old. And if Ederson’s medical falls through, Kone could be the guy they pivot to.
Kone spent last season establishing himself as one of Serie A’s most physically dominant midfielders. He’s 6-foot-1, technically sound, and loves to drive the ball forward with close control. He’s also having a solid World Cup with France in North America right now, which doesn’t hurt his visibility.
Roma are open to selling if the price is right, per earlier reporting from The Peoples Person. And Kone himself is reportedly very keen on a move to Old Trafford. He wants to test himself in the Premier League. That part seems clear.
The question is whether United will need him. Ederson’s medical will tell the story. If it’s clean, they likely move forward with the Brazilian. If not, Kone becomes a very real option.
United’s midfield overhaul has been a long time coming. Santos is already in the pipeline. Whether Kone joins him depends on a few medical scans and a lot of paperwork. But the calls have been made. The interest is real. And the summer window still has plenty of time to get weird.
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