Manchester United pushing to hijack Ederson to become first summer buy, following ‘verbal agreement’: report

Manchester United are looking to complete a first summer signing after qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United have now beaten every one of the other clubs in the so-called ‘Big Six’ this season, following the weekend’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford, meaning that a return to Europe’s elite is on the cards next term.

Though Casemiro is set to leave English football this summer when his contract at the Theatre of Dreams winds up, Kobbie Mainoo has signed a long-term extension to keep him at the club.

Who partners the Carrington graduate in the centre of midfield next season is still to be determined, however, though Atalanta schemer Ederson has been heavily linked over the past 18 months or so.

A report from Calciomercato in Italy states that the Brazilian no.6 has a verbal agreement in place with Atletico Madrid, though there is a complication over the fee needed to take him to the Spanish capital.

La Dea are said to be demanding around £40 million, which Atleti are reluctant to pay: a figure that wouldn’t be a problem for United.

Diego Simeone’s side have a backup Brazilian brawler in mind, in the shape of recently relegated Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, though Gomes is also wanted by Napoli – who, in turn, have been linked with Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

In securing their place in next term’s Champions League, United will perhaps be the best placed to make an offer for Ederson – though they will have to juggle a deal around other wants and needs in their squad.

It’s possible that the 20-time English champions bring in two new midfielders, with Manuel Ugarte having failed to impress since his move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

United could well look to bring in new full-backs on either side this summer, while the need for another central defender may have been eased by Harry Maguire committing to another year in the northwest.

Further forward, there may be a new arrival in forward areas, with limited quality in attacking areas beyond the first-choice front three of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, and the likes of Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount all linked with exits this summer.

Ederson is valued at around €40m by Transfermarkt. United are back in Premier League action this weekend when they travel to Sunderland.

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.