Manchester United's summer transfer window has been a major disappointment so far. After a third-place Premier League finish under interim head coach Michael Carrick, expectations were high for attracting top talent following three years out of the Champions League. However, the club has struggled to secure elite recruits, missing out on key targets like Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes to Premier League rivals.
Ederson Transfer in Doubt
Reports on Friday night suggested that Ederson's move from Atalanta was off. United had arranged a deal worth just over £38 million and agreed personal terms with the Brazil international before the World Cup. The 27-year-old even hinted the move was all-but confirmed while Brazil were still in the competition. However, several outlets claimed an underlying knee issue derailed the transfer following Ederson's medical examination in the UK, and that the deal had collapsed.
In contrast, the Manchester Evening News reports the club do not consider the move to be off. United sources reportedly denied the transfer was off, and the feeling internally was that suggesting it had fallen through was to increase pressure to close the deal. For now, it is uncertain whether Ederson's transfer will be completed or not.
Greenwood Sell-On Clause Windfall
United could receive more than £13 million if Mason Greenwood completes a move away from Marseille in the coming days. According to ESPN, Fenerbahce and Atletico Madrid have both agreed deals with the French club for the forward's signature. Greenwood left United to join Marseille in July 2024 for a fee of £26.6 million. That deal included a sell-on clause, which is set to be triggered if the 24-year-old successfully completes his move to either of the interested clubs.
United would receive a hefty bonus in the form of €14 million (£11.9 million) if he opts to move to Turkey, or €15.7 million (£13.3 million) if he returns to Madrid, having previously joined Getafe on loan. That will boost their transfer kitty ahead of a busy summer transfer window.
Andrey Santos will arrive from Chelsea in a £50 million deal, though the signing is somewhat underwhelming given the host of elite midfielders United had been linked with earlier in the window. Ineos chiefs are still expected to spend money on various acquisitions, though they are fighting against the tide to replicate last summer's success, given the inflated market and competition for high-quality recruits.
