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Arsenal are set to battle Manchester United for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, according to reports in the Italian media.
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TuttoJuve claim that Atletico Madrid were initially hoping to land the Brazilian, but the player’s €45m (£39m) to €50m (£43.3m) asking price has put them off from making a bid.
It leaves the way clear for the Gunners and United to fight it out for Ederson, with both teams said to be “ready to move concretely” to secure his signature.
Arsenal’s interest in the midfielder has been verified
Trusted journalist David Ornstein confirmed earlier this month that Mikel Arteta’s side are interested in recruiting Ederson, although they are not expected to match Atalanta’s current valuation
The 26-year-old is closing in on the final twelve months of his contract, and Ornstein claims that the London club value him closer to €40m (£34.7m).
That suggests there isn’t a massive gap between the two parties, but United’s involvement could complicate matters.
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Is signing Ederson a priority?
While Arteta does have sufficient cover in the middle of the park, with Mikel Merino and Christian Norgaard providing backup for the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, the Spaniard may be seeking another midfielder for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, Rice and Zubimendi have played A LOT of football in recent months, and fatigue has played a role, especially in Zubimendi, dropping form.
Arteta clearly doesn’t feel that their replacements, Norgaard in particular, are of sufficient quality to start in big games.
Secondly, Ederson has a set of attributes that the first-team squad currently lacks. He is a dynamic midfielder who has the ability to get around the pitch and press opponents.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here