Manchester United's attempt to sign Ederson from Atalanta is in tatters after the Brazil international failed a medical, leaving the club scrambling to salvage a midfield rebuild that has been beset by setbacks all summer.
United agreed a £35m fee, plus £4m in add-ons, for the 27-year-old on 2 June, with a medical scheduled for early July. But that plan was scrapped when Ederson received a late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad. Brazil were subsequently eliminated by Norway, yet despite Chelsea's Andrey Santos and former Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow closing in on their United moves — with respective agreements reached in the past 48 hours — there has been no update on Ederson.
“Manchester United's £35m deal for Ederson is off after a failed medical, amid a midfield crisis.”
According to sources, medical tests have shown an issue, with one telling BBC Sport the deal is off. The Times reports a knee injury has put the transfer at risk. However, sources at both clubs deny that is the case and say no decision has been made around the transfer. It is thought Ederson remains in the United States.
Ederson himself said during the World Cup that the transfer was 'practically all sorted', but on Friday a bombshell report from Italy emerged stating that United have chosen not to go ahead and informed Atalanta. The Serie A club believe Ederson is 100 per cent fit and would be ready to welcome him back.
The collapse comes as United close in on a £50m deal for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos. United will pay an initial £48m, with an additional £2m in what are described as 'achievable' add-ons. Chelsea have also negotiated a 10% sell-on clause. Santos has been cleared for a medical, and his arrival would go some way to addressing what was becoming a major issue for Michael Carrick's squad.
United prioritised central midfield this summer after Casemiro's contract expired. Manuel Ugarte was set to be sold but has been ruled out for an extended period with cruciate knee ligament damage. Their hopes of signing first-choice target Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest ended when his fee spiralled to £116m. They then targeted Mateus Fernandes but he chose Tottenham after a change of leadership at West Ham reduced their need to sell. With Kobbie Mainoo still at the World Cup with England, United faced opening pre-season against Wrexham on 18 July with Mason Mount as the only recognised senior midfielder.
If the Ederson deal does fall through, it would be the latest setback in a difficult summer for United, who finished third last season and are returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Fans are now in limbo, waiting to discover whether a transfer that seemed all but done can be resurrected.