“Talks held” – Man Utd insider reveals swift progress in INEOS quest to sign ‘strongest midfielder in the world’ | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly pushing to secure the services of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who has now emerged as the club’s top target.

The Red Devils will part ways with Casemiro, who already bid the Old Trafford faithful farewell last weekend. Moreover, Manuel Ugarte will be placed on the transfer list following two disappointing campaigns at the club.

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This leaves Kobbie Mainoo as the only out-and-out central midfielder who is guaranteed to remain at Man Utd beyond the current campaign.

Man United closing in on agreement with Atalanta for Ederson

Due to the alarming deficiency in midfield, bolstering this department will be the top priority for United directors Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell heading into the summer transfer window.

The club has been repeatedly linked with top Premier League stars like Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Carlos Baleba, but their respective clubs could ask for astronomical figures, potentially north of £100 million (especially in Anderson’s case).

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While making one hefty investment cannot be ruled out, Man Utd certainly cannot afford to spend a multitude of enormous transfer fees for the same department in the summer.

Therefore, INEOS are seeking cost-effective solutions, and one of them could be Ederson, who has swiftly climbed his way up the shortlist.

The 26-year-old has cemented himself as one of the best well-rounded midfielders in Serie A since joining Atalanta in 2022. With his contract expiring next year, La Dea is keen to sell him this summer, but insists on pocketing €45 million (or £39m).

In his latest update on RoundTable, MUFC insider Sully denies an agreement between the two clubs as other sources claimed, but reveals that the Premier League giants have held talks with the Serie A side, and they were able to make important progress.

United also need to find an accord with Ederson and his entourage on personal terms, but the journalist believes this shouldn’t be a stumbling block.

Why Ederson is the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo

The Brazilian midfielder has been on Man Utd’s shortlist for quite some time now. Last year, we argued that Ederson would be the ideal partner for Bruno Fernandes in the double pivot for Ruben Amorim’s system.

Nevertheless, what was said about the Ederson-Fernandes partnership is also applicable to Ederson-Mainoo, as the Brazilian can be the perfect foil for the young Englishman.

The 26-year-old was hailed by Italian journalist Damien Er Faina as the ‘strongest defensive midfielder in the world’.

While this might be a slight exaggeration, Ederson certainly possesses impressive physical traits to complement the youngster’s exceptional technical skills.