Manchester United remain in the fray for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who is expected to leave Atalanta at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Bergamo since joining the club in the summer. He swiftly established himself as a pillar in Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, emerging as one of the most complete midfielders in Serie A.
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However, the ‘relentless’ Brazilian is now expected to leave Atalanta following a challenging campaign affected by Gasperini’s exit last summer.
Ederson’s Atletico Madrid move on the verge of collapse
In recent months, Atletico Madrid appeared to be Ederson’s next destination, with the two parties reaching an agreement on personal terms. However, the Colchoneros haven’t been able to strike a deal with Atalanta.
The Italian club are known for sticking to its guns in negotiations, and this time, they set their asking price at €45 million (£39m), a figure the Spanish capital side isn’t willing to shell out for a player whose contract will expire next year.
Hence, Fabrizio Romano believes that Ederson’s move to Atletico risks total collapse, as the club-to-club accord remains distant.
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The Italian journalist provided the latest on the midfielder’s situation in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.
The transfer market expert tells the viewers to ‘keep an eye on the Premier League’, revealing that Man Utd and an unnamed EPL club remain ‘keen’ on the Atalanta star.
Romano adds that United don’t consider Ederson a top target, but he represents a viable solution should they fail to acquire other profiles.
Should Man Utd meet Atalanta’s asking price for Ederson?
At this stage, Man Utd’s midfield plans remain shrouded in mystery. With Casemiro leaving and Manuel Ugarte placed on the transfer list, the club needs at least two new additions, while many observers insist three are required, as Kobbie Mainoo is the only out-and-out central midfielder who’s guaranteed to stay for next season.
Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Aurelien Tchouameni are some of the names that have been making the rounds for months, but INEOS are unlikely to afford signing more than one, given the hefty asking prices.
Therefore, Ederson can represent a cost-effective alternative. While Atalanta’s valuation might be inflated considering his expiring contract, he would still cost half or less compared with those mentioned above.
| Percentiles | Duel% | Poss won | Prog carries | Fwd passes | Fwd pass% | Key passes | Prog passes | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ederson |
45.9 | 66.7 | 72.2 | 87.6 | 84.1 | 61.1 | 82.8 | 2198 |
| Elliot Anderson | 65.4 | 90.2 | 51.9 | 94.1 | 74.4 | 54.8 | 95.0 | 3340 |
|
Carlos Baleba |
84.4 | 90.0 | 46.1 | 12.0 | 12.4 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 1596 |
|
Aurelien Tchouameni |
96.3 | 71.3 | 23.3 | 95.2 | 98.5 | 32.4 | 87.0 | 2539 |
(Stats via DataMB)
The Brazilian is a well-rounded midfielder who combines physical strength and stamina with high tactical awareness and the ability to drive the ball forward.
These attributes render him a natural fit for the box-to-box role, but he can also act as a holding midfielder.
