Ederson: Man United handed fresh incentive to land Atalanta’s Brazilian midfield star | OneFootball

The belief is that by 2026, Manchester United could finally make a concerted effort to strengthen their engine room with the quality midfielders it has long been yearning for.

Although Manchester United’s midfield has looked decent at times, a closer inspection reveals that it simply is not operating at the levels required.

Failed midfield chase

Last summer, the suggestion was that Ruben Amorim wanted a dynamic, athletic midfielder to inject mobility into his side.

Yet he never managed to land his top target, Carlos Baleba. United pulled out of a deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion talent, with the Premier League club adamant he was going nowhere.

While United might have explored alternatives, none materialised. Amorim has therefore had to lean heavily on the experience and brilliance of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

As technically gifted as the duo remain, they lack the mobility United’s system demands. Age is catching up with them, which is precisely why rivals such as Arsenal are being linked with younger, more vibrant midfielders.

Ederson links

One name that has been repeatedly linked to United is Atalanta’s Ederson.

Towards the end of last season, reports suggested Amorim had specifically asked INEOS to secure the Brazilian. The Portuguese head coach allegedly viewed the Serie A midfielder as tailor-made for his system.

At 26, Ederson is best described as a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder who thrives in high-tempo, aggressive setups. Renowned for his physicality, tactical intelligence, and versatility, he would have slotted seamlessly into United’s current system.

However, a summer move failed to materialise, with Atalanta’s sky-high asking price proving to be the biggest stumbling block.

Double Ederson transfer boost

Months after that collapse, Ederson’s agent Andre Cury dropped a bombshell: his client could now be available for significantly less, at least half of the original valuation.

While INEOS may already have considered this a tempting opportunity, they have since been handed another significant boost. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla revealed that Ederson’s entourage has taken a decisive step, leaving Atalanta with little choice but to cash in.

Pedulla explained: “His agent Andre Cury (the same as Yuri Alberto, the striker followed by Roma) no longer intends to discuss a possible renewal, a further sign that his ambitions are to find a compromise on the price of Ederson.”

He added: “The ball is in Atalanta’s court, taking into account that from January to June—without a renewal—the valuation of the player would inevitably change.”

Ball in INEOS’ court

If INEOS are monitoring the situation as closely as they ought to be, this latest development should act as added motivation to move decisively. Furthermore, with the player’s contract running until 2027, the closer we get to its expiry, the more likely his valuation is to drop.

Ignoring such a bright opportunity to secure Ederson at a bargain would be baffling to many.

With United in desperate need of a complete midfield overhaul, the Samba star could well be one of the cornerstone signings to rebuild and revitalise the club’s engine room.

Featured image Francesco Scaccianoce via Getty images

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