Manchester United have reportedly revised their stance on a potential move for Ederson after switching their focus to Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans. The latter is widely expected to join the Red Devils after it emerged on Monday that a deal was very close to being agreed.
Tielemans Deal Close
United are expected to sign the Belgium international for around £35million after triggering his release clause at Villa Park. Tielemans is expected to undergo a medical on Tuesday, after which point the transfer could be officially announced.
The deal will have significant implications regarding United's long-running pursuit of Atalanta playmaker Ederson. A package worth around £39million had been agreed with Atalanta at the start of the summer window, but it now looks set to be abandoned.
Ederson Move Shelved
Ederson completed some initial medical tests before travelling to the World Cup and it looked like it was only a matter of time before the move would be officially announced. However, after Brazil's surprise exit in the round of 16, the midfielder underwent another round of medical checks. It was at this point that United decided to pivot on the deal, instead favouring moves for Tielemans and Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos.
While those potential transfers have emerged as higher priorities, it's claimed by The Athletic that United could revive their pursuit of Ederson towards the end of the window, depending on what happens in the market between now and then. However, as things stand, the move has been shelved with Tielemans and Santos poised to join the Red Devils over the coming days.
Reduced Price Possible
A separate report from the Manchester Evening News states that United could look to negotiate a reduced price for Ederson, but there is no guarantee Atalanta would lower their demands.
It was widely reported towards the end of last season that Michael Carrick wanted to sign at least two new midfielders, with Casemiro leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract. Manuel Ugarte was initially listed for transfer but has since sustained a long-term knee injury that will prevent him from being sold this summer.
Previous Targets
United were previously linked with a move for Elliot Anderson before he joined Manchester City in a deal worth around £116m. They also tried to sign Mateus Fernandes but were beaten to his signature by Tottenham, who paid £85m to secure his services. United offered the same figure in talks with West Ham but it reportedly included bonuses, rather than being a fixed fee, and the player chose to join Spurs instead.
