Manchester United are not messing about this summer, with a second deal to follow Ederson expected ‘reasonably quickly’.
Ineos set the tone for their transfer market operations last summer by getting Matheus Cunha through the door early.
Ederson has followed that template this season, with an agreement reached for his services, well in time for him to start pre-season with Man Utd.
The Brazilian is now likely to be joined by a second new arrival, as per BBC’s Simon Stone.
Now the Ederson deal is agreed… WHO SHOULD BE MAN UTD’S NEXT TARGET?
Let us know who should be signing number two…
Mateus Fernandes to Man Utd transfer update
The midfield rebuild at Old Trafford is set to go into overdrive as Mateus Fernandes is all set to follow Ederson through the door.
Like Ederson, Fernandes is not going to the World Cup either, and while Ederson was into the last 12 months of his contract, West Ham’s relegation makes Fernandes attainable.
There has been some distance over what West Ham are demanding for the player, and what United are willing to pay.
BBC’s Simon Stone reports that it could all be public posturing, and he expects that deal to be done “reasonably quickly”.
He said [via BBC Sounds]: “Absolutely, no doubt about that [midfield being priority]. I think with Mateus Fernandes, I would be surprised if that deal didn’t get done.
“At the moment, we’re in a bit of a standoff in terms of West Ham saying, ‘we don’t have to sell’, well they probably do actually, and West Ham also saying they want 80m and that’s a best-case scenario for them.
“Manchester United will want to pay a lot less than that. That seems another deal that could be done reasonably quickly.”
Ineos are well ahead of the market
This Fernandes update comes out of nowhere and hammers home the night-and-day difference Ineos have made to Man Utd’s transfer operations.
How much do you think Man Utd will spend in this window?
It can be revealed that £243m will already be leaving Old Trafford this summer…
This is the same club which looked in a state of panic on every deadline day, now wrapping up multiple deals before even the window has opened.
Having secured two players now, United can go into further negotiations from a position of strength, rather than desperate for reinforcements.
Furthermore, Fernandes and Ederson already complete the chief priority of United’s window, which was to add legs and technical quality to the midfield.
Ineos are well ahead of the market, and that bodes well for the signings ahead. This doesn’t feel like another false dawn.
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