Manchester United have agreed a £35m deal for Atalanta’s Ederson, but chief executive Omar Berrada has warned the club will not be pressured into overpaying for further targets this summer. “Whatever decisions we take will not just be for the short term but the long term,” Berrada said on United’s Inside Carrington podcast, insisting the template from last summer – when data-driven moves for Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens helped United finish third and qualify for the Champions League – will be replicated.
United are still searching for at least one more central midfielder, with West Ham’s £80m-rated Mateus Fernandes a strong interest. They also want a backup striker for Sesko and a left-sided player. But club sources have stressed they will not overpay, a lesson learned from the costly wages and fees for Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek.
“Omar Berrada says Man Utd will not overpay in transfers while Frank Leboeuf suggests Warren Zaire-Emery as ideal midfield signing.”
One name being touted is PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery. The 20-year-old midfielder, who has Champions League-winning pedigree, was suggested as an ideal signing by former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf. “I think that would be a great signing for Manchester United,” Leboeuf told CBS. “Michael Carrick played in the position of Zaire-Emery. I’m pretty sure he would give him great advice to improve.”
Zaire-Emery had a strange season, struggling for the first six months before finishing well, and has players ahead of him in PSG’s pecking order. United have also been linked with Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali. Meanwhile, Casemiro has already left after his contract was not renewed, and Manuel Ugarte is available for offers. Kobbie Mainoo has re-established himself under Carrick.
Berrada stressed the need for flexibility. “You have to be prepared for any eventuality,” he said. “There could be exits you weren’t expecting or opportunities that weren’t there at the beginning of the window.” With director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, and director of negotiations Matt Hargreaves all heavily involved, United are determined to stick to their plan – and not be swayed into a panic buy.