Manchester United closing in on €53m agreement for Atalanta midfielder Ederson | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to take the first step towards their summer midfield rebuild, with the club now closing in on a €53m agreement with Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson.

La Liga giants Atletico Madrid had previously agreed personal terms with Ederson, but ultimately baulked at Atalanta’s valuation.

Personal terms between Ederson and United have already been agreed in principle, with the midfielder set to sign a five-year contract worth €5m per year—a package that would make him one of the club’s highest-earning midfielders.

Ederson’s contract at Atalanta expires in June 2027, and his agent Andre Cury has publicly confirmed that his client will not sign an extension—meaning the Bergamo club risk losing one of their most valuable assets for nothing in twelve months’ time if they do not sell this summer.

The Brazilian, described as ‘out of this world’ by Fabio Capello, has made 180 appearances for Atalanta since joining from Salernitana in 2022, contributing 16 goals and six assists while establishing himself as one of Serie A’s top box-to-box midfielders.

The urgency behind INEOS’s pursuit stems from an impending overhaul in Old Trafford’s engine room. Cult hero Casemiro has played his final game for the club ahead of an anticipated move to MLS side Inter Miami, while Uruguayan international Manuel Ugarte is also expected to depart following a difficult campaign.

With Kobbie Mainoo cementing his status as the future of United’s midfield, the club’s decision-makers have prioritised an intense, high-energy box-to-box operator to balance the tactical setup.

However, Ederson is not expected to be the only midfield addition at Old Trafford this summer, with United still in the hunt for the likes of Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes