Manchester United are planning to strengthen their force strongly in the summer transfer window after reaching an agreement to sign midfielder Ederson from Atalanta. The Brazilian star is expected to become the first signing under coach Michael Carrick.
After winning the right to return to the Champions League, the "Red Devils" are clearly aware that the pressure on match density next season will be much greater. Last season, the Old Trafford team only played 40 matches in all competitions, but this number is expected to increase significantly in the next 12 months.
According to British media, Man United's board of directors is focusing their attention on a series of targets in midfield. The initial agreement to sign Ederson worth about £35 million has been agreed upon with Atalanta.
Besides the Brazilian midfielder, the Old Trafford team is also closely monitoring Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United and Carlos Baleba of Brighton. Elliot Anderson is also on the list of interest, although Manchester City is currently said to be dominating the race to sign this player.
If the above deals are completed, Man United will own an energetic and significantly deep midfield. Ederson stands out for his ability to compete and support defense, while Tchouameni is a top defensive midfielder in Europe.
Baleba and Fernandes are again highly appreciated for their ball development ability and adaptability to the intensity of the Premier League. This shows that Carrick is aiming to build a more balanced midfield, capable of competing in many arenas.
In addition to strengthening the midfield, MU also prioritizes adding a new striker after confirming that Rasmus Hojlund has left Old Trafford on a permanent transfer. The left-back position is also in the upgrade plan, with Lewis Hall of Newcastle United being considered one of the potential options.
The appearance of a new center forward is considered an urgent requirement in the context of the "Red Devils" attack lacking stability last season. Carrick is said to want to own a striker who can operate independently, put good pressure and take effective opportunities to improve the team's competitiveness in the Champions League.
Man United and Carrick's leadership both agree on the view that the path to the first team for academy talents must not be narrowed. Carrick himself has long been famous for his belief in players who have grown up from the youth training system.
Immediately after being appointed in January, the former English midfielder brought Kobbie Mainoo back to the main squad. This young midfielder quickly regained his form, while other talents such as Shea Lacey were also given opportunities to show themselves last season.
In contrast to his predecessor Ruben Amorim, who was criticized for limiting the use of young players and often pushing Mainoo onto the bench, Carrick is considered to be more open to promising talents.
Besides the shopping plan, Man United is likely to continue to purify the force to create more transfer funds and free up team space. Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana are all said to be on the list of possible players to leave. Casemiro has left the club after his contract expired, while Jadon Sancho is also predicted to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer after an unsuccessful period on loan at Aston Villa.
