Manchester United are planning to make a splash in the transfer market as they look to strengthen their midfield for Michael Carrick this summer
José Ederson of Atalanta looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Atalanta BC at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Genoa, Italy
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Ederson(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Sandro Tonali is 'on his way' to Manchester United with the club ready to go 'all in' to sign the Newcastle United midfielder, according to reports in Italy. United are said to be undeterred by the £87million price tag the Magpies have placed on the former AC Milan ace.
Tonali signed for Newcastle for £55m from the San Siro and is under contract until the summer of 2029, with the club holding an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. The player's agent was vocal over a potential exit earlier in 2026 amid links to Arsenal.
It remains to be seen how Anthony Gordon's £69.3m to Barcelona will impact Newcastle's resolve to keep Tonali this summer. The Premier League side's failure to qualify for Europe and bottom-half finish could yet put them under financial pressure, though they raked in £130m for Alexander Isak last summer.
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United are prioritising improving their midfield for Michael Carrick this summer. Casemiro is departing Old Trafford, and United have already admitted defeat in the race for Elliot Anderson this summer.
The club have made progress in attaining long-term target Ederson from Atalanta, however. The midfielder was left out of the Serie A side's final game of the season last weekend to protect him from injury amid United's interest.
United are understood to be closing in on a move for the 26-year-old, with a package worth up to £38m. Ederson is not expected to be a direct replacement for Casemiro but there is a belief he is a player capable of adapting quickly to the Premier League.
Sandro Tonali has been linked with a move to Manchester United
Sandro Tonali has been linked with a move to Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Ederson is set to leapfrog Manuel Ugarte in the pecking order. The former PSG ace is available for transfer
But as they intend for him to provide greater depth, United's midfield ambitions do not end there. They hope to make a statement signing for the position.
Speaking earlier this year, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said that the Magpies were not in as vulnerable a position as they were when selling Isak to Liverpool.
"Obviously in the summer we didn't have a sporting director, which massively impacted our way of working in terms of dealing with agents and dealing with that situation," Howe said.
"We were in a more vulnerable position than we are now. Ross [Wilson] has filled that position and is showing really good leadership dealing with transfers and all the things that entails.
"We are in a stronger position now to navigate those waters in a much calmer, clearer way."