Even after a summer spending spree to the tune of over £200million, there remains a gaping hole or two in Manchester United's midfield.
Recruits Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have caught the eye so far at Old Trafford, but Ruben Amorim's side look stuck in transition, unpredictably bouncing between positive results and humiliating defeats. Consistency is seemingly the primary issue at United and there is no quick fix for that, but further signings would certainly help, especially in January.
The club may have money to splash out and they appear to be prioritising reinforcements down the spine of the team, with one midfielder who has impressed in Serie A said to be on their shortlist. The big question now, however, is whether the deal is likely to happen.
Man United Reignite Ederson Interest
Ederson celebrating after scoring for Atalanta
According to Trivela, United are keeping tabs on Atalanta's Ederson and are in frequent contact with the player's representatives. His departure is now seen as a case of when, not if. His camp are thought to have held talks with potential suitors, and the Red Devils have been described as a "likely destination".
The publication has claimed that United have checked in regularly with his representatives, with the expectation being that they will reopen direct talks with the player - described as the 'strongest DM in the world' in the near future, having missed out on his signature in the summer.
Atalanta played hardball during negotiations, which eventually collapsed despite an agreement on personal terms.
They are set to strike a similarly defiant stance this time around, with the Italian outfit keen to keep him until the summer. As such, they have been touted to demand at least €50million (£43.8m), though that price tag could drop at the end of the campaign. Ederson's deal runs out in June 2027, meaning he could hold talks with foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement from January of that year.
Fabrizio Romano addressed United's interest in him during the summer, writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter.
At the moment, Atalanta don’t want Ederson to go, and it would take a proposal completely out of the market value to make it happen.
United Should Move For Ederson
Ruben Amorim
Ederson certainly looks like a good fit for the Red Devils. He is progressive with the ball and accurate with his passing, two traits Amorim's system heavily depends upon. Crucially, the talented 26-year-old is an all-rounder and looks ready to take the next step.
He is also defensively resilient, and would need to be in order to adapt and thrive in Amorim's demanding double pivot. The signs are promising, though, with Ederson described as 'out of this world' by Fabio Capello.
United would do well to listen and push hard for his signature, perhaps even as early as January. They cannot afford to rely on Manuel Ugarte or Casemiro, both of whom face uncertain futures at the club, while Bruno Fernandes' magic is nullified in a deeper role. Ederson would quickly ease the burden on the captain and make an impact at both ends of the pitch.
Agent Reveals Ederson Price Tag
Atalanta midfielder Ederson waves to supporters
Speaking on Cadena SER, via Football Espana, Ederson's agent, Andre Cury, revealed the figure that would tempt Atalanta into a sale.
It’s an opportunity because his contract is expiring. Atalanta hasn’t wanted to sell him despite receiving very high offers. I think they’ll complete the transfer in this winter or summer window.
[Atalanta were asking for] a lot of money, between €60m and €75m. He’s close to the end of his contract, they could reduce his price by half, to between €30m and €40m, but he’s a spectacular player with some of the best stats in Europe for his position.