Manchester United will not bow to pressure and overpay in the summer transfer window, chief executive Omar Berrada has declared, as the club moves quickly to seal a £35m deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson while being urged to target PSG's Warren Zaire-Emery.
Speaking on United's Inside Carrington podcast, Berrada pointed to the club's painful history of overspending on Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek as a reason for a new approach. "The template for what we did last summer will be replicated," he said, referencing the rapid acquisitions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens that propelled United to a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification.
“Man Utd chief Berrada vows no overpaying as £35m Ederson deal nears and Zaire-Emery is touted.”
United have already agreed a £35m fee for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who will undergo his medical shortly before pre-season. But Berrada stressed the club would not be forced into reckless spending. "We have a clear plan," he said. "Whatever decisions we take will not just be for the short term but the long term." Sources have confirmed United will walk away from any deal that demands an overpayment — which is why they remain cautious on West Ham's £80m-rated Mateus Fernandes, despite strong interest.
The emphasis on midfield rebuilding has been sharpened by the departures of Casemiro and the likely sale of Manuel Ugarte, with head coach Michael Carrick keen to add at least one more central midfielder. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has suggested PSG's Warren Zaire-Emery as an ideal signing, telling CBS: "I think that would be a great signing for Manchester United. I'm very fond of Michael Carrick and the job he did, and he was playing in the position of Zaire-Emery. So I'm pretty sure he would give him great advice to improve." Leboeuf noted the 20-year-old Frenchman has Champions League-winning pedigree but struggled for game time last season, partly due to uncertainty over his future.
In addition to midfield reinforcements, United want a striker to back up Sesko and a left-sided player who can compete with Luke Shaw, given that Patrick Dorgu is viewed as more of an attacking option by Carrick. Director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and director of negotiations Matt Hargreaves will all be involved in executing the plan.
With Ederson close to arriving and further targets being assessed, the question is whether United can stick to their disciplined blueprint — or whether the lure of a proven talent like Zaire-Emery will test their resolve.