Ederson's £35m Man United move still on despite deal collapse reports

Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson is still firmly on course, despite reports circulating on Thursday claiming the transfer had fallen through. A fee of £35m plus £3.8m in add-ons has been agreed with the Italian club, personal terms have been settled, and the Brazilian international is set to sign a four-year contract once the move is formalised.

The reason no official announcement has been made is straightforward: Ederson is still representing Brazil at the World Cup and has yet to undergo a medical with United, which typically represents one of the final steps in completing any transfer. He cannot carry out that medical until after Brazil’s involvement in the tournament ends.

With the World Cup final scheduled for 19 July, it could be more than a fortnight before Ederson completes the formalities. That timeline means he is likely to miss United’s opening pre-season fixtures — against Wrexham in Helsinki, Rosenborg in Trondheim, and Atletico Madrid in Stockholm between 18 July and 1 August. The friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August may represent a more realistic target for his first appearance in a United shirt.

The delay adds pressure to manager Michael Carrick, who is currently short of options in central midfield. Kobbie Mainoo is the only senior central midfielder currently available, with Casemiro having departed and Manuel Ugarte ruled out after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Uruguay at the tournament.

United have been linked with several alternatives, though previous targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes ultimately joined Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively after being deemed too expensive. Sandro Tonali is also set to join Spurs in a deal reported to be worth around £100m, having previously been connected with Old Trafford. Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos are among the names still being mentioned in connection with the club as Carrick looks to strengthen his midfield options before the new season begins.