Fernandes, Baleba and Scott face now-or-never United midfield window as Ederson deal opens race

Manchester United have agreed a £35 million deal to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, but the club are pushing for at least one — possibly two — further midfield additions this summer as Ruben Amorim looks to overhaul the engine room at Old Trafford in a single window.

The 26-year-old Brazilian fills one vacancy, but United’s remaining targets face an unusual dynamic: this may be their only realistic chance to join the club. Just as United restructured their attack in 2025 with the intention of not revisiting that position for years, the same logic applies to midfield this summer.

Elliot Anderson is among the names United have pursued, though the Nottingham Forest midfielder is reported to prefer a move to Manchester City. Both clubs face the challenge of negotiating with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has shown little appetite for selling at a discount. Anderson, 23, is in a strong position with two Champions League clubs competing for his signature. Aurelien Tchouameni, meanwhile, appears likely to remain at Real Madrid.

Mateus Fernandes at West Ham is a player United admire, but not at the £85 million valuation West Ham have placed on him. Carlos Baleba presents a similar obstacle — Brighton have blocked a move for the 22-year-old for the second consecutive summer by demanding a fee beyond what United are prepared to pay. Baleba wanted to move to Old Trafford last summer and still does, and has allies in the United dressing room in André Onana and Bryan Mbeumo. But if United secure a different No. 6, that route may close permanently.

Alex Scott of Bournemouth has Europa League football to look forward to next season and is reportedly weighing a new contract at the Vitality Stadium that would include a release clause — a mechanism Bournemouth used to retain Antoine Semenyo. That arrangement could work in Scott’s favour long-term, but it also risks delaying a move until United’s midfield needs have been met elsewhere.

The Mbeumo transfer last summer offered a template: Brentford accepted a deal partly because the forward made his desire to join United unambiguous. United’s remaining midfield targets — Fernandes in particular — may need to apply similar pressure on their current clubs to force a resolution before the window closes.