Man United join Premier League rivals Arsenal in race for in-demand Brazilian | OneFootball

Manchester United’s midfield has been crying out for a massive structural reset for quite some time now. With the legendary Casemiro officially confirming he will be packing his bags when his contract expires at the end of June, the desperate search for his long-term successor has started.

The Red Devils are in desperate need of midfield additions and a number of midfielders are on their radar ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to highly reliable transfer guru David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Red Devils are now firmly in the hunt for Atalanta’s 26-year-old Brazilian powerhouse, Ederson.

Man United midfield needs an overhaul

With Manuel Ugarte currently struggling to nail down a spot and potentially facing the Old Trafford exit door himself, adding a versatile, combative anchor like Ederson makes perfect sense.

However, the Red Devils will face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal to sign the Serie A midfielder.

Since the Brazilian’s current contract expires next summer (June 2027) and he has absolutely no intention of renewing, Atalanta are reportedly holding out for around £44 million.

However, seasoned suitors believe a deal could realistically be struck closer to the £35 million mark.

Red Devils face competition to sign Ederson

Both Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have shown serious, concrete interest. However, the stars seem to be aligning beautifully for Man United.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico have recently hit a massive impasse regarding the player’s personal terms, effectively pausing their pursuit.

That leaves Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as the main threat. But here is where United hold the ultimate trump card: guaranteed playing time.

If Ederson moves to the Emirates, he faces the monumental task of trying to displace elite, established starters like Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, heavily restricting him to a frustrating rotational role.

At Old Trafford, Casemiro’s departure leaves a gaping, immediate hole in the starting XI.

For a 26-year-old entering the absolute peak years of his career, the promise of being the main man in the Premier League is a game changer.