The Brazilian midfielder Ederson was supposed to be Michael Carrick’s first signing at Manchester United. A reported £39 million deal with Atalanta was agreed in early June. A four-year contract plus an option for an extra year was on the table. All that was left was a medical. Then things got weird.
During those medical tests, sources say concerns popped up about a potential knee injury. Nothing was confirmed, but it was enough to require a second look. Before United could get that second look, Ederson got a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad to replace Roma’s Wesley. That pushed everything back. The plan was to run a second medical after the tournament ended in North America.
Brazil dropped out in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway. Ederson came off the bench with the game scoreless. That exit was supposed to clear the way for the deal to get finalized this week. But rumors started swirling before Brazil even got knocked out. Reports out of Brazil claimed United was considering walking away. Club officials immediately pushed back, saying everything was still on track.
Conflicting Reports Create Chaos
Now it’s a mess. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano dropped the news that the deal had “collapsed.” Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio, who’s usually rock-solid on Serie A stuff, said United told Atalanta they’re done. But then Manchester-based sources hit back hard. The club “firmly denied” pulling the plug. They said they don’t currently consider the move off and haven’t terminated negotiations.
That word “currently” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Internal talks are still going on behind the scenes. But the fact that they felt the need to include that word suggests this thing could flip either way. It’s giving Woodward-era energy, honestly.
Santos In, Ederson in Limbo
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Andrey Santos is basically already a United player. A £50 million deal is expected to be finalized imminently. The speed of that move makes the Ederson saga look even more chaotic. An inside source claims INEOS thinks the Santos price is excellent value in a market that’s gone off the rails.
With Manuel Ugarte out indefinitely with a serious knee injury, United needs midfield bodies. Carrick wants three new midfielders this summer. Santos is one. That leaves two spots open, and Ederson was supposed to fill one of them.
Alternative names keep popping up. Roma’s Manu Kone is being floated as a primary alternative, with one report saying United is ready to offer £43 million. But the Manchester Evening News shot that down, saying there’s currently no plan to sign him. Wolves’ Joao Gomes is another name, though that’s likely agent-driven since his expected Atletico Madrid move stalled. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is the leading candidate, but the Cherries are reportedly refusing to sell him this summer.
Pre-season training has already started. Carrick wants new faces integrated before the team heads to Scandinavia for the summer tour. That deadline is creeping up. Ederson was supposed to be the first domino to fall. Now he’s not even the first Brazilian to sign. Whether he actually ends up at Old Trafford is anybody’s guess. The conflicting reports suggest United itself might not know yet.
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