United close in on Ederson and target Tonali as Carrick rebuilds midfield

Manchester United are closing in on a £38m deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson and have set their sights on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali as they push to reshape their midfield under manager Michael Carrick ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Ederson, 26, was left out of Atalanta’s final Serie A fixture of the season to protect him from injury as United’s interest intensified. The Brazilian is not viewed as a direct replacement for the departing Casemiro but is considered capable of adapting quickly to the Premier League. His arrival would see him leapfrog Manuel Ugarte in the squad hierarchy, with the former PSG midfielder available for transfer.

Reports from Italy suggest Tonali is ‘on his way’ to Old Trafford, with United prepared to go ‘all in’ despite Newcastle placing an £87m price tag on the former AC Milan man. Tonali joined Newcastle for £55m and is contracted until the summer of 2029, with an option to extend by a further 12 months. His agent had publicly raised the possibility of an exit earlier in 2026 amid reported interest from Arsenal.

Newcastle’s financial position this summer is a key variable. The club failed to qualify for Europe and finished in the bottom half of the Premier League, though they generated £130m from Alexander Isak’s sale to Liverpool last summer. The £69.3m departure of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona may yet add further pressure on the Magpies’ resolve to hold onto Tonali.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking earlier this year, insisted the club is better equipped to handle transfer negotiations than it was during the Isak saga. “We were in a more vulnerable position than we are now,” Howe said. “Ross [Wilson] has filled that [sporting director] position and is showing really good leadership dealing with transfers and all the things that entails. We are in a stronger position now to navigate those waters in a much calmer, clearer way.”

United have already confirmed Casemiro will leave Old Trafford this summer and have conceded defeat in their pursuit of Elliot Anderson. The club’s midfield recruitment drive reflects Carrick’s desire to build a more dynamic and versatile engine room, with Ederson expected to provide depth and Tonali representing the marquee statement signing the club is targeting.