A long-term Manchester United midfield target has been given a new price-tag that might rule the English club out of the transfer race for him.
Manchester United’s summer transfer business is continuing to heat up as the club prepares for a much-needed squad overhaul.
Ruben Amorim’s side is in need of rejuvenation all over the pitch due to a long list of players leaving at the end of their contracts and others, like Marcus Rashford and Antony, potentially being sold.
United will be doing this on a limited budget as the club is hamstrung by PSR issues and the possibility of not having any European football if they fail to win the Europa League.
This has become an issue for United as a long-term target has been given a new price-tag which may deter Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the board.
Ederson’s new £63m price-tag set
Atalanta midfielder Ederson, described as a player with a “crazy” workrate, has had his price set at £63.7 million, with this information coming from the Spanish outlet Diario AS.
AS has reported that Atalanta have no intention of selling their star player at a loss. The Bergamo side bought Ederson from fellow Serie A side Salernitana for £19.5 million in 2022.
This means that a £63.7 million sale would be a massive profit for the club and they would almost certainly let him go for that price.
Ederson’s agent has been interviewed by AS and asked about the chances of the 25-year-old departing Atalanta. “Leave? We don’t know. I have to see when the offers come in,” he said. “There are always probes, but we don’t know.”
United are not alone in the pursuit of the Brazilian, with the aforementioned report mentioning that Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Juventus and Real Madrid are all also eyeing the midfielder.
With the interest from other big clubs across Europe, it looks likely that United could be priced out of the deal for the Brazilian if a bidding war ensues, especially if they fail to win the Europa League.
Ederson price increase leaves doubts about United signing
Reports last week suggested Ederson’s price tag would be in excess of £45 million but these new details would mean that price is £18.7 million above that.
With such an increase it’s likely that United won’t come to a decision until their financial situation becomes clearer, meaning whether or not they qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League.
Additionally, Ederson has been a long-term United target dating back to at least January 2024. This means he was an Erik ten Hag target and one United were interested in before INEOS took over transfer activities.
However, the interest has continued through both the ownership and managerial changes showing that Ederson’s appeal might have transcended the changes.
It looks likely that Amorim will make Matheus Cunha one of his first signings this summer. Under Amorim’s system, Cunha would play in one of the positions behind the striker. Meanwhile, Ederson would be set to play deeper in the roles often filled by Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
The new price tag for the Atalanta star has definitely made the transfer look less likely. However, the club is clearly interested and various reports have been suggesting that a deeper midfield player is a priority this summer.
Some may suggest that United could find a better deal elsewhere, and the club’s chiefs will need to assess the best course of action for that position, as it is well-known to be crucial for almost every top team.
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