Manchester United must find a way to prise Atalanta midfielder Ederson to Carrington, as he might just be the best answer for their midfield dilemma.
INEOS are currently occupied in bolstering the club’s attacking ranks. Matheus Cunha is expected to be the first big summer acquisition, while an out-and-out centre-forward should follow suit.
But while we’re all delighted to see the club addressing the glaring issues upfront, the Reds’ midfield issues could be equally damning.
This season, Bruno Fernandes has done a sensational job at masking some of these problems with his non-stop, relentless displays, but the club captain can ill-afford another gruelling campaign like this one, especially now that he’s on the wrong side of 30.
Moreover, Christian Eriksen will be leaving the club as a free agent (and rightfully so), while the management will also try to get rid of Casemiro and his lucrative wages despite his recent revival. As for Kobbie Mainoo, he has looked more at ease in a more advanced position.
Man Utd Need Midfield Revamp
At this stage, Manuel Ugarte appears to be the best option to strike a partnership with Bruno in the middle of the park, but the Uruguayan still has a long way to go before establishing himself as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League.
Therefore, United need at least one new central midfielder. But instead of spending the cash on several ‘decent’ recruits, the management would be wise to splash the midfield budget on one top signing who can raise the quality in the starting lineup.
With Cunha expected to line up alongside Amad Diallo in the attacking trident, Ruben Amorim would likely confirm Bruno as a central midfielder in his 3-4-2-1.
So while the Portuguese playmaker will provide the vision and flair in the middle of the park, he needs a solid partner who can carry the water and add some much-needed physicality.
Why Ederson is the best man for the job
Hence, Ederson would be a tailor-made signing for United. According to AS, Atalanta have named their price at €75 million, but this figure shouldn’t scare away the Reds, as they’ll be getting their money’s worth and more.
The 25-year-old, once described by former England manager Fabio Capello as an ‘out of this world’ player, is a complete midfielder, capable of winning back possession, supporting the attacking plays, and is no slouch on the ball.
Since joining Atalanta in the summer of 2022, he has been developing his game under Gian Piero Gasperini, who also adopts a 3-4-2-1 system.
United could face stern competition from the likes of Man City and Juventus, but they must at least try to put up a good fight for the Brazilian who ticks all the boxes.
