Manchester United Scrapped an Ederson Deal. Now Joao Gomes Is the Target.

Manchester United’s summer midfield rebuild just took another turn. And it’s a messy one.

The Red Devils had a deal in place for Atalanta’s Ederson. Total agreement with the club. Personal terms locked in. Then Fabrizio Romano dropped the news earlier today: United pulled out after the Brazilian’s medical test results left them unsatisfied. Atalanta has already been told.

So now United need a Plan B. And they might have found one in a familiar face from the Premier League.

The Joao Gomes Situation

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes was all set to join Atletico Madrid. That deal was reportedly agreed between the clubs. But it fell through too. According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Gomes will stay in England. Just not at Wolves anymore.

Both Manchester United and Liverpool have made contact. They’ve asked about the terms of a deal for the 25-year-old, who looked headed to La Liga for around €45 million. United’s sudden exit from the Ederson race has clearly shifted their focus back to Gomes.

This isn’t a new name for United. The club had him on their radar since January. But when Ruben Amorim left, the potential move stalled.

What Gomes Brings

Last season was rough for Wolves. They got relegated to the Championship. But Gomes was one of the few bright spots. He emerged as one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the league. Former Flamengo guy. In Brazil they call him ‘The Pitbull’ because of how aggressively he wins the ball back. He’s got that mix of intensity and control in possession that United’s midfield has been missing.

Globo Esporte says United actually restarted talks for Gomes at the end of last season. But by then his move to Atletico was too far along. That’s when things got weird.

The Atletico Twist

Atletico was also trying to sign Bernardo Silva after he left Manchester City. Super agent Jorge Mendes was handling both deals. But in a dramatic pivot, Silva chose Real Madrid instead. That reportedly pissed off Atletico’s board. Their response? They decided not to sign Gomes.

So now Gomes is back on the market. And with United needing a midfielder and Liverpool lurking, this could get interesting fast.

No official word yet from either club. But the dominoes are falling.