Manchester United close in on three midfield signings as Ederson nears medical and Kone emerges as new target

Manchester United are pushing to complete three midfield signings before the new season, with Atalanta’s Ederson set to undergo a second medical in the coming days and a deal for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos also reportedly agreed.

United are believed to have reached an agreement worth £35m plus £3.8m in add-ons for Brazil international Ederson back in June, but the official announcement was delayed due to his involvement at the World Cup. Now that Brazil’s tournament has ended, the 27-year-old is expected to complete the formalities with United’s medical staff imminently, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The club have also reportedly agreed terms to sign Santos from Chelsea, with the two deals representing a combined outlay of approximately £85m. The moves come as United look to overhaul a central midfield department left short by Casemiro’s departure, and with uncertainty still surrounding the futures of Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount.

Despite missing out on earlier targets including Elliot Anderson, Matheus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali, United have not slowed their recruitment drive. Reports from TEAMtalk now suggest a third name has entered the picture: France midfielder Manu Kone, currently contracted to Roma.

The 25-year-old caught the eye with his performances at the World Cup, and Roma are said to be open to offers in the region of £50m. Kone initially joined the Italian club on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2024 before completing a permanent transfer for £15m in 2025, meaning Roma would more than triple their investment after just one full season in Serie A.

Kone was not among United’s primary targets at the start of the summer window, but the high asking prices attached to Premier League alternatives — including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton — combined with his World Cup displays appear to have prompted the club to shift their focus toward the Roma midfielder.