Man United identify ‘fantastic’ Serie A star as ideal replacement for waning veteran | OneFootball

Manchester United are already preparing for life without Casemiro, so they turned their attention to Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

The Red Devils’ middle of the park is set to undergo major changes under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, even if a January revamp remains implausible. For instance, Christian Eriksen is widely expected to leave the club once his contract expires at the end of the season. Moreover, Casemiro is unlikely to dwell at Carrington for too long, especially considering his fading status at the club.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, United have identified Ederson as the perfect profile to replace his Brazilian compatriot. As the source explains, the Atalanta star has received the full approval of the Man Utd management, so an onslaught on Bergamo is expected to ensue. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano describes the midfielder as a ‘fantastic’ player.

The 25-year-old has risen to prominence since joining the Europa League champions in the summer of 2022 and immediately establishing himself as an undisputed starter in Gian Piero Gasperini’s 3-4-1-2 system, which isn’t too different from Amorim’s tactical jigsaw.

Man United Intend to sign Atalanta’s Ederson

Ederson on the pitch for Atalanta (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, the source insists that Atalanta certainly won’t deprive themselves of the services of their stalwart in the middle of the campaign. Hence, the Red Devils will have to wait until the summer to try and sign the influential midfielder.

Moreover, the Premier League giants must be prepared to break the bank, as negotiating a deal with the Serie A leaders won’t be a pleasant task. Last summer, La Dea insisted on pocketing no less than €60 million when Juventus and others came forward for Teun Koopmeiners. And even though the soap opera dragged until the end of August, they stood their ground and eventually got their wish.

Therefore, the source expects the same stubborn stance from Atalanta when negotiating a deal for Ederson, as well as a similar price tag, if not higher.