Manchester United first signing imminent as deal done earlier than expected | OneFootball

Medical has been booked for this week as Michael Carrick lands first summer deal

Manchester United are set to confirm their first summer signing earlier than expected.

A deal has been in place for a number of weeks for Ederson to become manager Michael Carrick's first new recruit ahead of next season.

According to widespread reports, a fee worth £35million, plus £3.8m in add-ons, was agreed with Atalanta ahead of the World Cup. Ederson is expected to sign a four-year contract.

And now it has, earlier than expected.

Brazil were on Sunday knocked out of the World Cup by Norway ahead of the quarter-finals. It marked the first time the Selecao failed to make the last eight at a World Cup since 1990.

But Brazil's pain is Man Utd's gain as Ederson is now clear to complete his move to Old Trafford.

TEAMtalk report that Ederson will fly to England this week to undergo a medical and put pen to paper to become a Man Utd player.

Ederson

AFP via Getty Images

Ederson is expected to be the first of at least two new midfielders through the door this summer.

Italy great Andrea Pirlo said of Ederson: "He is a player good for the Premier League. He is a dynamic runner and intense [and] a player that can adapt really well there."

Man Utd had hoped to sign both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but watched on as both players picked Tottenham instead as Roberto De Zerbi snapped up two priority targets for a combined £185m.

It means Man Utd and Carrick have been forced to look further down their list of targets, which includes Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, amid reported interest also in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni.

Standard Sport understands that Santos, while appreciated by Chelsea, is open to a move elsewhere this summer in search of regular first-team minutes. Newcastle are also interested in the Brazilian.

According to TEAMtalk, Man Utd are preparing an ambitious move for Tchouameni, who has long been admired by the club, who are said to be close to opening talks with Real Madrid in the coming days.

Real Madrid are reluctant to sell Tchouameni, who remains an important part of their plans, and are expected to demand a fee of at least €100m (£85m) if they are to consider offers.

Felix Nmecha is said another option, but Borussia Dortmund value the 25-year-old at around €120m (about £103m).