Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, a £35m move triggered by the collapse of their deal for Atalanta’s Ederson.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, is negotiating a financial package for the 29-year-old Belgium captain, who has a release clause in his Villa contract and two years remaining on it. Tielemans favours a switch to Old Trafford despite interest from other clubs and a new contract offer from Unai Emery, ending a three-year stint at Villa Park.
“Man Utd in advanced talks to sign Youri Tielemans for £35m after Ederson deal collapses due to knee issue.”
The pursuit comes as United overhaul a midfield depleted by Casemiro’s departure at the end of last season and a cruciate ligament injury to Manuel Ugarte during the World Cup. Manager Michael Carrick had prioritised central midfield after those losses, but early targets proved elusive: Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest was priced above £110m, and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes chose Tottenham.
United have already secured one midfielder, agreeing a £50m deal with Chelsea for Brazilian Andrey Santos. The 22-year-old will cost an initial £48m plus £2m in achievable add-ons, with Chelsea retaining a 10% sell-on clause. Santos is set to be announced early next week after clearing a medical, and he said he was “hailing Michael Carrick” after becoming United’s first summer signing.
The Ederson deal, however, has fallen through. United had agreed a £35m fee plus £3.8m for the 27-year-old Brazil international, but a knee issue flagged during initial tests in the United States led to specialists being consulted. After Brazil’s last-16 World Cup exit, Ederson flew to England for further tests, and United decided to back out. Sources say the transfer could be resurrected later in the summer at a renegotiated price, but the club will not proceed on previously agreed terms.
Tielemans brings considerable Premier League experience from his time at Leicester (since 2019) and Villa (since 2023). He captained Belgium at the World Cup, scoring two goals as they reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 2-1 to Spain. He was forced to miss that match after suffering an injury in the warm-up.
Villa, meanwhile, are set to bolster their own midfield with the £49m signing of Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, partly to offset the potential loss of Tielemans and the long-term injury to compatriot Amadou Onana.
With Kobbie Mainoo still at the World Cup with England and Mason Mount the only recognised senior midfielder returning for pre-season, Carrick’s squad now has reinforcements. Santos and Tielemans, if completed, would transform a department that looked dangerously thin just days ago.