Manchester United’s summer shopping spree is hitting its stride. With the World Cup wrapped up and the club’s Brazilian targets suddenly free and clear, the Red Devils are closing in on not one, not two, but three new arrivals in what’s shaping up to be a serious midfield and depth overhaul.
The biggest domino still teetering: Atalanta’s Ederson. The 27-year-old midfielder is reportedly undergoing the first of two medical tests after his move was delayed by a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup roster. He replaced Wesley Franca as an injury substitute, only for Brazil to crash out in the round of 16 against Norway last weekend. Now he’s free to formalize his roughly £38.8 million move to Old Trafford, assuming the medical comes back clean.
Santos and Darlow on Deck
Then there’s Andrey Santos. United agreed to pay Chelsea £48 million plus another £2 million in add-ons for the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder. The deal isn’t fully signed yet, but it’s widely expected to go through soon. Santos provides something United have lacked for a while — a younger, hungry midfielder who can actually get regular minutes. He wasn’t getting that at Chelsea. United pounced on what they see as a market opportunity.
Santos and Ederson weren’t the first choices. United originally wanted Mateus Fernandes from Sporting, but he went to Tottenham for £85 million earlier this month. United walked away when Spurs matched West Ham’s asking price. So they pivoted to Ederson and Santos as more budget-friendly alternatives. Not exactly a consolation prize situation, but certainly a different strategy.
On the goalkeeping front, Karl Darlow is expected to join on a free transfer after his contract at Leeds expired at the end of June. The 35-year-old veteran would back up current No. 1 Senne Lammens. This move comes as Altay Bayindir is expected to leave for regular playing time elsewhere.
Medical Schedule Taking Shape
Both Santos and Darlow are expected to have their medicals in the coming days. Ederson’s is already partially underway. The whole operation feels like it’s moving at a faster clip now that the World Cup is out of the picture. International tournaments always freeze the market a little, and with Brazil already eliminated, United’s timeline just got a whole lot cleaner.
The club hasn’t announced anything officially on any of these three deals, but multiple reports suggest announcements could come within the week. For a team that spent most of last season looking thin in midfield and shaky in goal, that’s a pretty quick turnaround.
Leave a Comment