Atalanta midfield dynamo Ederson is starting to emerge as a strong candidate to replace Casemiro at Manchester United.
Late in April, The Guardian reported that United have identified Ederson as a potential recruit to “fill the gap left by Casemiro’s summer departure.”
United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, is thought to be an admirer of the combative Brazilian, known for his strong tackles and pressing.
A report in Italy now suggests the Red Devils are prepared to ramp up their pursuit.
Manchester United are pushing to sign Ederson
According to TuttoSport (via Sport Witness), Juventus are keeping a close eye on Ederson, but it is Manchester United who are “pushing hard” to secure the Atalanta star’s services.
Atletico Madrid have already reached a broad agreement with the 26-year-old midfielder over personal terms.
However, the La Liga giants are not willing to meet the Serie A side’s asking price, with their current proposal standing at €35 million.
It is claimed Atalanta would prefer to sell Ederson to United, as they are prepared to fork out as much as €45m (£38.9m). Their financial situation has strengthened following qualification for next season’s Champions League.
A separate report suggests United are also willing to offer a more lucrative contract than Atletico to lure him to Old Trafford.
Wilcox should avoid repeating previous transfer blunder
Wilcox appears to be a massive fan of Ederson. However, his profile is not too dissimilar to Manuel Ugarte, who was also desperately chased by Wilcox and eventually convinced to leave Paris Saint-Germain for United.
Ederson Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serie A | 28 | 24 | 1 | - | 3 | - | 2,055' |
| UEFA Champions League | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 724' |
| Italy Cup | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 210' |
| Total | 39 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 4 | - | 2,989' |
Akin to Ugarte, Ederson is not a technically secure midfielder with the ball at his feet, and their best work comes out of possession.
The Brazil international is slightly more physical and athletic than the Uruguayan, but he is also unlikely to help the Red Devils dictate the tempo of play.
As such, INEOS should be wary of spending a significant figure on a midfielder with limited skill sets.
Featured image Francesco Scaccianoce via Getty Images
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