Manager praying ‘monstrous’ £45m star does not leave, Manchester United could make move as Casemiro replacement

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United’s 3-2 victory over Newcastle in the penultimate game of the Premier League season was a triumph built in Bergamo but made in Manchester.

Amad Diallo, having already assisted Kobbie Mainoo‘s opener late in the first half, put Erik ten Hag‘s team back in front early in the second, lashing home a fizzing volley with his trusty left boot.

Rasmus Hojlund then stepped off the bench and secured three hard-earned but well-deserved points, shifting the ball onto his supposed ‘weaker’ side and hitting the postage stamp with a shot of pure poise and precision.

Manchester United signed the forward duo from Atalanta. Amad joined for an initial £19 million under Ole Gunner Solskjaer, while the latter arrived for a cool £64 million, Hojlund and the twinkle-toed Ivorian giving United fans reason to dream for a brighter future alongside FA Cup final heroes Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

Manchester United could raid Atalanta again

With further additions required both in defence and midfield, could the Red Devils return to a familiar watering hole to quench their thirst again? There have been links with Atalanta centre-half Giorgio Scalvini and all-action midfielder Teun Koopmeiners.

The tough-tackling Ederson, per Goal Brasil, is another with admirers at Old Trafford.

While one of the most effective defensive enforcers in Europe – Ederson was brilliant as Atalanta neutralised Bayer Leverkusen’s playmakers in the 3-0 Europa League final thrashing – the Brazilian also chipped in with seven goals across 2023/24.

For Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Ederson’s contributions at both ends of the pitch are a reminder of the fact that a man with the second-most tackles in the La Dea squad actually arrived in Bergamo as a more attack-minded player (WhoScored).

“I thought he was an attacking midfielder!,” Gasperini tells Tuttomercatoweb. “In fact, he started last season in that role, like at (former employers) Salernitana.

“Then I realised his monstrous effectiveness in (ball) recoveries. He’s a doberman. If you run away, he’ll come and get you.”

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United need a Casemiro successor

With Casemiro’s likely departure creating a sizeable hole in the heart of Erik ten Hag’s engine room, it’s difficult to think of a more fitting successor than Ederson.

Still only 24, Atalanta have reportedly slapped a ‘not for sale’ sticker on his head. He is, as Tuttomercatoweb say, ‘untransferable’.

Actions speak louder than words, however. And Atalanta’s stance could soften if Man United come calling again with a bid in excess of £45 million (Gazzetta dello Sport).

“I would like to call it hope, but I don’t know,” Gasperini adds when asked if the Europa League champions can retain Ederson and Koopmeiners.

“For Koop, Atalanta have already refused so much, even in January.”

Ederson, Gasperini’s Duracell-powered ‘doberman’, did what no one has managed to do across 2023/24 as he restricted Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios to a watching brief in last week’s one-sided final, ending Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten streak along the way.

“Ederson has been class. He’s been absolutely first class,” former United ace Owen Hargreaves, a 2008 Champions League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008, told TNT Sports (22 May, 8pm).

“Ederson looks like he’s got a double out there. He’s been everywhere.”