Manchester United are reported to be looking to Atalanta towards midfield talent Ederson.
Manchester United’s interest in Brazilian midfielder Ederson was reported this week via Goal Brasil.
Ederson, 24, played alongside Rasmus Hojlund last season and is an option reportedly being considered by the club.
No offer has been made so far by Manchester United, but the talented midfielder is a name to watch, if not for a move in this transfer window, ahead of the summer one.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Ederson: What you need to know
Ederson was contracted in Brazil for Corinthians for two seasons before signing with Salernitana in 2022. He actually began his career at Desportivo Brasil, Manchester United’s former development club.
United In Focus spoke to Brazilian journalist Rogerio Amaral, site editor for Vamo Corinthians, to get the lowdown on the midfielder.
He explained: “Ederson is a strong player who makes a lot of tackles. He has a good pass and usually makes longer passes as well. He is not an offensive midfielder, but he sometimes appears in attack.”
Ederson has managed to score five goals this season for Atalanta, a decent return, and his time in Italy is actually going better than it did in Brazil.
Amaral added: “He spent a short time at Corinthians, even being away from the main team for a period. He didn’t have much success at the club.
“He played for Fortaleza on loan in 2021. It was his most prominent year in Brazilian football. It was sold to Salernitana that same year. His greatest development came in Italian football.
“Before Corinthians he played for Cruzeiro, he did well, but without getting much prominence.
“He was formed in the academy of Desportivo Brasil, a club of businessmen with the aim of training players and selling them. Today the club belongs to the Luneng Group, owned by the Chinese club Shandong Luneng.”
He added that Mauro Junior (PSV), Bremmer (Juventus), Gustavo Scarpa (ex-Nottingham), Rodrigo Muniz (Middlesbrough) and Diego Carlos (Aston Villa) all came through the same pathway.
Ederson numbers back it up
Ederson’s numbers in Serie A this season back up the observation that passing is among his strengths.
According to FBRef, Ederson has made the fourth highest number of progressive passes in Serie A this season with 118 in total.
He has made 103 passes into the final third, ranked sixth in Serie A.
He ticks the box for tackles too. He has won 30 tackles, the second-highest among all players in Italy this season.
This is the kind of all-round productivity Manchester United need from a potential midfield signing, and at the least, ‘interest’ could develop into extensive scouting over the next few months, before a decision is made whether to make a move or not.
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