Atalanta midfielder Éderson has verbally agreed upon a five-year deal with Manchester United, a report said. Earlier reports had claimed that the Brazilian was Michael Carrick's choice to be Casemiro's successor in the middle of the park.
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali could well be the second midfielder to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, but the Magpies will have to lower their asking price for the Italian for the deal to go through. Tonali's Premier League experience and current form are the factors that keep him above the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, and Alex Scott on the long list of midfielders on the club's radar.
After Éderson gave the go-ahead, United also held initial talks with Atalanta over the transfer, TEAMtalk said in a report. Atlético Madrid had earlier managed to reach an agreement over personal terms with Éderson before the deal fell through, the report added.
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A Desportivo product, Éderson reached Atalanta via Salernitana and has established himself as one of their most influential players. The 25-year-old has close to 100 appearances in Serie A, and his contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
What may work in favour of Éderson is his ability to carry the ball up the pitch, looking for progressive forward passes and through-balls. Éderson can be used as the anchorman who dictates play whilst Kobbie Mainoo is pushed forward to join the attacking ranks. Teaming Éderson up with Mainoo in the heart of the pitch is precisely what the club's interest in the Brazilian is all about, earlier reports had said. Thus, he may not be the ideal like-for-like replacement for the veteran Casemiro, but he may fit other requirements in the middle of the park.
If the sale of Manuel Ugarte goes as planned, Manchester United may end up signing as many as three midfielders this summer. If he is not signed as the defensive midfielder needed to take over from Casemiro, he may be chosen to fulfil another role on the field.