Manchester United have concluded their first transfer business of the summer with Ederson set to join from Atalanta.
The Brazilian will arrive in a £38million deal but will not officially join the club until July.
When he does join, Ederson will sign a four-year contract with the Red Devils as head coach Michael Carrick begins to overhaul their midfield.
The deal, which was finalised on Tuesday afternoon, will see United pay an initial £34m fee to Atalanta, with the rest in add-ons.
United have been keen to conclude a transfer for Ederson early and had a delegation in Italy to conduct discussions not only for the 26-year-old but also other potential signings, as per our Man United transfer briefing article. It came to a conclusion after Atalanta appointed Cristiano Guintoli as their sporting director last week.
United want at least two midfielders this summer and a forward as well as competition at full back and goalkeeper.
Ederson will become a Man United player in July after a £39million transfer was finalised
With Casemiro having left and Manuel Ugarte’s future in doubt, Carrick and the United hierarchy are keen to bolster their midfield with only Kobbie Mainoo the only other recognised natural first-team central midfielder.
West Ham’s relegation means their negotiating power over Mateus Fernandes has slightly diminished, as they need to raise over £100m in player sales.
Newcastle’s price for Sandro Tonali remains prohibitive while Carlos Baleba would love to join but Brighton are equally difficult to prise players away from cheaply.
United’s ideal targets have been either Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid or Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, but the England man is still expected to join rivals Manchester City if a fee can be agreed. Forest have been talking up a £125m valuation but City see a deal closer to £90m.
As detailed by Daily Mail Sport last month too, Ederson’s future at Atalanta appeared to be at an end after he was left out of their starting line-up against Fiorentina.
Then-Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino confirmed: ‘Not fielding Ederson was a mutual decision. There are ongoing developments related to the transfer market.
‘The fact that he is being tracked by such an important club should be a source of pride.’
In Ederson’s absence, Atalanta drew the game – their last of the season – 1-1.
