- Matues Fernandes remains a top United target
- Pre-season is a must for the two signings
- Ederson is awaiting confirmation
Manchester United continue to be linked with midfield reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window. Reports suggest both Ederson and Mateus Fernandes remain on the club’s radar.
Neither deal seems close to completion. There’s a strong argument that INEOS should get both over the line before the upcoming World Cup break.
Michael Carrick can then give his new signings plenty of time to prepare for his first full season in charge. Ederson and Fernandes were both left out of their respective nations for the World Cup.
Early arrivals give Man Utd crucial advantage
Perhaps the biggest advantage for United is timing, as Ederson and Fernandes haven’t been selected for the World Cup. Both players would be available to begin work at Carrington from the first day of pre-season.
This would be a massive shift in United’s recent transfer strategy. United have often found themselves dragging transfer business deep into the summer window, leaving new signings with little time to settle and missing the majority of pre-season.
Avoiding a repeat of that scenario would allow the club to start the season with stability and clarity, whilst ensuring all signings are up to speed with Carrick’s expectations.
With yet another project starting under Carrick, United are looking to build momentum, including avoiding late-summer transfer-window uncertainty and ensuring all key signings are included in the pre-season tour.
United saw this new strategy come into play earlier last year, when MatheusCunha was announced as a Manchester United player on the first day of the window. Allowing the Brazilian to settle into the squad and become one of United’s key players throughout the season.
A stall on Ederson to United
Fans are concerned that the Ederson deal has fallen through; however, the transfer is still on track, as the club has reportedly reached an agreement with Atalanta for the Brazilian midfielder.
Ederson is likely to be the replacement for Casemiro, who leaves the club this summer when his contract expires, as the Brazilian is set to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
With just one year left on the Brazilian’s deal at Atalanta, the club and the player have already agreed on personal terms, with the final process now between the two clubs.
The 26-year-old has made 180 appearances for the Italian side and was part of their 2023/24 Europa League win against Bayer Leverkusen. The Brazilian did not play in their final Serie A match of the season amid links to a move to United.
Ederson is in pole position to become Carrick’s first signing since he was given the permanent role of head coach after a phenomenal second-season run since taking over from Ruben Amorim.
The race for Mateus Fernandes
Manchester United are reportedly the strongest candidates for Fernandes’s signature. The club views Fernandes as a long-term solution in midfield as INEOS hopes to pair him up with Ederson as the two early signings.
Fernandes joined West Ham last summer from Southampton for £38 million. However, despite being at the club for one season, his departure looks imminent following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.
West Ham has placed a £60 million valuation on the Portuguese, though his figure is expected to be lower due to the financial issues that come with relegation.
United are expecting a lot of competition for Fernandes’s signature, with Arsenal, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and clubs in Italy all monitoring the midfielder.
