Atalanta’s £17 million-rated midfielder Ederson admits it is flattering to be linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs amid reported interest from Premier League giants Manchester United.
After snapping up Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo, scouting Giorgio Scalvini, and including Lee Congerton on their list of potential director of football targets, Manchester United appear to be returning to a familiar watering hole in their pursuit of an all-action central midfielder.
Goal Brasil reports that the Red Devils are monitoring Ederson. Atalanta’s tireless, tenacious 24-year-old enforcer.
If you were to look up the term ‘complete midfielder’, you might find a little picture of Ederson accompanying the definition. While primarily a defensively-minded operator – Ederson’s average of 2.5 tackles per game is almost identical to Casemiro’s tally – the Brazilian took his tally to five from 19 Serie A starts this season when he found the net again in Monday’s 5-0 thrashing of Frosinone (WhoScored).
It was a performance which, amid links with Man United, Newcastle, Juventus, Barcelona and more, will have done little to calm the speculation surrounding a potential departure from Bergamo.
Manchester United like Atalanta ace Ederson
“Being looked for by big clubs? This is normal when the transfer market opens, for some situations to come up,” Ederson tells Sky Sports Italia. “It happened in Brazil, it happened when I was at Salernitana…”
And it’s happening now, too. Though one suspects Atalanta will hold out for far more than the rumoured £17 million fee given the interest of so many A-list clubs.
“For me, it’s better this way. It means that I’m doing well and that there are many people watching me,” he adds. “It always happens with the transfer market.
“But the most important thing is to do well at Atalanta, and I’m doing very well here.”
Ederson may be viewed at Old Trafford as a long-term Casemiro replacement, given that he is seven years younger than his fellow Brazilian. Casemiro, after a difficult season beset by injuries and a lack of form, could be shipped out to Saudi Arabia as INEOS look to trim United’s crippling wage bill.
Casemiro’s replacement?
“Ederson is a strong player who makes a lot of tackles,” Brazilian journalist Rogerio Amaral, site editor for Vamo Corinthians, tells United In Focus.
“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 is on a) growing journey. An extraordinary boy, on and off the pitch,” Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi explains, via Sky Italia. “His performances speak for him. We are happy with what he is doing. The club has made a great investment and we need to be patient.
“Last year, he already played well but this year even more so.”
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