Man Utd agree £35m fee for Atalanta's Ederson

Manchester United have agreed a £35m (40.5m euros) deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson, signalling their ambition for a busy summer in the transfer market.

Ederson, 26, is still to have a medical, with sources saying the transfer should be completed in early July before United's return to pre-season training begins.

After strengthening their forward positions last year, this time around United are prioritising central midfield.

The reasoning is logical. Veteran Brazilian Casemiro has left the club and a lack of faith in Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte - a £50m buy from PSG in 2024 - was emphasised by Michael Carrick not using him at all after he started the home defeat by Leeds in April.

It would be a major shock if Ugarte was still at the club once the transfer window closes on 1 September.

If Ugarte leaves and Ederson comes in, United would be left without experience in the deeper midfield positions, with Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes usually used further forward.

That is why United could end up with two, possibly three, additions in that area of the pitch alone. There is potential for reinforcement from the academy, in the former of Tyler Fletcher, who is part of Scotland's World Cup squad, or Jacob Devaney, who excelled on loan at St Mirren in the second half of the season.

Ederson, who has three international caps, was named in Brazil's 55-man expanded World Cup squad but missed out on manager Carlo Ancelotti's final selection.

He has proved adaptable across a number of central midfield roles for Atalanta, scoring 16 goals in 180 games for the Serie A outfit in all competitions.

United are also keen on West Ham's Mateus Fernandes.

As yet, there has been no formal offer, and sources at the relegated London outfit are dubious United would be willing to pay the kind of sums they would be prepared to sell for.

A figure of £80m has been mentioned by Hammers sources, which would be viewed as a justified profit on a player who cost them in excess of £40m when he joined from Southampton last summer.

United covet England's Elliot Anderson, although the Nottingham Forest midfielder would prefer to join Manchester City, and were also interested in Brighton's Carlos Baleba last summer.

In addition to strengthening their midfield, United are looking to bring in a left-sided player, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall among the players on their radar, and striking support for Benjamin Sesko.

They are also still to decide on the precise make-up of their goalkeeping team, which could include Radek Vitek, who enjoyed a superb campaign on loan at Bristol City, where he won all their player of the year prizes.

The 22-year-old Czech told BBC Sport in April he is open minded about the future but wants to play regularly, suggesting he will not return to Old Trafford as back-up to Senne Lammens.

It is understood former first-choice Andre Onana has been told he can find another club, although it is not clear how easily the Cameroon international's wage demands will be met.

As with forward Marcus Rashford, Onana will benefit in an increase in his wages because United qualified for next season's Champions League.

Driven by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United have revamped their data analysis operation under Michael Sansoni and the former high-ranking Mercedes Formula 1 performance engineer has had significant involvement in identifying the right targets, working alongside director of football Jason Wilcox.

Carrick confirmed he had been involved in recruitment meetings from the point he was named as Ruben Amorim's temporary successor in January.

Ederson was part of Ancelotti's World Cup long list of 55 players, but the midfielder - who turns 27 in July - did not make Brazil's final 26.

With only five midfielders in the squad, the Selecao could yet regret not taking him to the tournament, although his country's loss could be his possible new club's gain.

Ederson would seem to have plenty to add to United, who are looking to bolster their midfield options.

His Brazilian compatriot Casemiro is leaving the Red Devils, and Manuel Ugarte could follow. Ederson offers more on the ball than the Uruguayan and is more dynamic around the field.

He is a midfielder in the mould of Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes. After three splendid seasons in Italy with Atalanta, Ederson would seem overdue for a move - and may blame his final season in Serie A for missing out on the World Cup.

Old Trafford calls for big personalities, and the good news for United fans is Ederson has dealt well with difficult circumstances.

He made his name in Brazil's first division with Cruzeiro, a huge club who - after a highly successful few years - were imploding under the weight of debts and off-the-field scandals.

The midfielder made his mark as a 20-year-old in 2019, standing out in a side that was hurtling towards relegation towards the second division.

More recently Ederson has been part of an Atalanta side that have consistently punched above their weight. Two years after their fine Europa League triumph the time has surely come for him to go in search of a bigger stage.