Man Utd open talks to sign £80m star alongside Ederson

Manchester United are not hanging about, already looking to secure a number of summer signings ahead of the summer transfer market.

It’s not over the line, but INEOS are confident that they will secure Atalanta midfielder Ederson’s signature in the coming weeks, with reports claiming the player is rejecting approaches from rival suitors.

This could be a transformational signing. Ederson, 26, has been described as the “strongest defensive midfielder in the world” by former teammate Damiano Er Faina.

There is a real sense that United have the capacity to challenge for the Premier League title next season. To some, that might seem far-fetched, but there is a lot to like about Carrick’s outfit, especially when considering INEOS are targeting even more exciting targets in the middle of the park.

Man United line up midfield signing after Ederson

With Casemiro leaving for Inter Miami this summer, a signing of Ederson’s calibre could make a world of difference for a team who have already rediscovered themselves and climbed back into the Champions League.

Sure, Kobbie Mainoo has reemerged under Carrick’s wing, having been ostracised by the gaffer’s predecessor, but there’s still something missing in the middle of the Old Trafford park.

Bruno Fernandes has been sublime this season, putting in an all-timer of a campaign, but he does need more playmaking support, especially as he now finds himself stepping into the final third, having been stuck in the centre under Amorim’s wing.

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United have made an enquiry for West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, who is expected to leave the London Stadium this summer.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting midfielders in the division, but United are not alone in lodging their interest, with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain also keeping a close eye on him.

West Ham seek £80m for the all-action midfielder’s departure, but given that they have just had their Premier League status snatched from them, United will be looking to engineer a shrewder price.

Why Fernandes could be a Mainoo upgrade at Man Utd

Fernandes is not as good as his Manchester United namesake, but he is one of the most talented young midfielders in the Premier League, with a skillset to both complement a fellow signing like Ederson while adding something new to Carrick’s midfield.

Football writer Joost van der Leij already considers him a “superstar“, certainly a shining light during a tough Hammers campaign.

The 21-year-old might even be a bigger talent than Mainoo, even as the England international bounces back from the darkness that he languished within under Amorim, who was hesitant to hand him minutes in the Premier League.

The statistics certainly emphasise Fernandes’ quality, and how he is shaping into one of the most impressive midfielders in the league, physical and technical as he darts from box to box.

He joined the Londoners from Southampton after their relegation from the Premier League in 2024/25, and now, having been condemned once again, has managed to maintain respect for his individual quality.

That is a measure of Fernandes’ ability, a combative and ferocious challenger who has the quality to break lines with surgical passing and carry the ball into the danger area himself.

West Ham have struggled this season, one of the most lethargic teams in the Premier League. But Fernandes has still managed to stand out throughout – just imagine the heights he could hit in a Man United side who have started to make real headway and compete for the ascendancy once again.