The great midfield search for Manchester United is kicking into gear with new contacts taking place for a player open to joining.
As the season ticks to a close, the transfer window is coming into the rearview mirror, and the midfield gap is looking bigger and bigger as a result.
Ineos know that, and their priority is taking shape in the form of new contacts for a player who is open to joining Old Trafford.
Fabrizio Romano has the latest on United’s midfield search.
What are your thoughts on Ederson being linked to Man Utd? Is he what we need?
Man Utd’s new contacts for Ederson
Man Utd fans know that the club needs multiple midfielders, and not every player can be a marquee one bought for north of £100m.
As a result, rotational options like Ederson have come to the fore, despite some red flags around his name.
Regardless, United are being sincere in their search and with the Brazilian being one of the many names on the shortlist, contacts with Atalanta have taken place.
Fabrizio Romano reports that new contacts will take place in the coming days as Ederson is open to joining the club.
A price tag of €45m has been mooted, but with the player’s contract expiring in 2027, United will hope that it comes down.
Ederson is a serviceable midfielder, but his omission from the Brazilian squad for the World Cup raises some question marks about his quality.
As long as he’s one of the rotational options who doesn’t take money away from the marquee signing, there’s merit in going after him.
Man Utd can’t repeat Rasmus Hojlund error with Ederson
Ederson and Hojlund aren’t compared as players when this point is made, but the wider argument is that Atalanta have already fleeced United once.
Pick your DREAM summer midfield rebuild within the reported budgets…
Who is the first name you want?
Firstly, the transferability of skills from Serie A to the EPL is pretty iffy, so United taking a punt on Ederson is risky as it is.
Furthermore, they can’t commit close to £40m on a player who won’t start most weeks, and at 27 (in July), won’t have much resale value once he plays out his Man Utd contract.
At least United could make Hojlund one of their most expensive sales ever, but the ROI on Ederson will be completely on the pitch.
They must set a hard limit of around £30m for him, and walk away if Atalanta try to fleece them again.
Glazers did the Hojlund deal, and Ineos have shown more financial discipline, so the hope is that that is exactly how it pans out.
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