Carrick making it his mission to sign £25m star for Man Utd

Manchester United aren’t wasting any time this summer, looking to close a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson before the start of the World Cup in North America.

The £35m deal is inching toward the finish line, with the separate parties in concert: they all want this one done. The tough-tackling midfielder will serve as Casemiro’s replacement, described as the “strongest defensive midfielder in the world” by Damiano Er Faina.

It will be the first signing of Michael Carrick‘s reign as Man United’s permanent manager, but much more is needed this summer. INEOS must build on this recent revival, the Red Devils finishing third after a spectacular bounce-back.

Man United confident they will win jam-packed race

Ederson will add much to the Manchester United midfield, but Carrick needs more progression and dynamism in the middle of the park, someone to complement the almighty Bruno Fernandes while challenging Kobbie Mainoo for a starting berth.

Elliot Anderson might be the key there.

The Red Devils are eager to make their move in a deal that could hit the nine-digit mark, but with Manchester City also in the battle, there are no guarantees that they will get this one over the line.

According to The Northern Echo, interest in Anderson has not stopped INEOS from pursuing a deal for Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney, who is valued at £25m and who will be allowed to leave Wearside this summer after Boro failed to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur are both readying approaches, but Hackney is believed to favour a move to Old Trafford, thus suggesting Carrick and Co are confident that they will get this one over the line.

Having worked with the midfielder before, it is believed that Carrick is personally driving the move to bring to United in the forthcoming months.

Many supporters would bite at the hand proffering Anderson’s services, but the figures are sky-high, and City indeed have a vested interest of their own. Hackney could represent the perfect alternative.

Why Hackney can be Man Utd’s own Anderson

It says something of Hackney’s quality and leadership skills that he was awarded the Championship Player of the Season after injury ended his regular campaign in mid-March.

Middlesbrough won only two of their remaining eight fixtures, yanking them out of the top two. He returned for the play-off final, but it wasn’t enough.

Described as “the best player in the Championship” by journalist Eric Paylor, Hackney has been immense for his boyhood club, but now is the time for him to step up to the highest level, performing for a Manchester United side on the up.

Not just comfortable on the ball, Hackney believes that controlling and dictating games come under his jurisdiction. It is his job to orchestrate play, ranking among tip-top Championship percentiles for ball retention and progressive passing metrics, also among the top 7% of midfielders for successful dribbles completed per 90.

That basically means he’s a master of the pass, but he also knows something of driving the ball forward himself, finding a vantage point from which he can drill a pass into the box.

Anderson is obviously among the cream of the crop in England. “He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League,” said Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel back in November 2025.

Hackney, 23, isn’t quite on Anderson’s level, but immersing himself in a high-performing top-flight outfit could bring him up to that desired level.

He wins many duels, creates with accuracy and consistency, far beyond most midfielders in that regard, and he knows how to pop up with direct goal involvements of his own.

It’s difficult to pin down a more optimistic point in Manchester United’s post-Fergie history than right now, with Carrick now in charge on a permanent basis.

Since he took the battered reins in January, no Premier League team has performed better, gained more points. Now, INEOS need to repay him with top-class summer signings, and given the finances that could be involved in a deal for Anderson, Hackney could be a shrewd alternative who would still pack a similar punch.