‘We will not overpay’: Man Utd chief Berrada sets hard line on transfers as Ederson deal looms

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada has insisted the club will not bow to pressure and overpay in the summer transfer window, drawing a firm line under the era of splurging on the likes of Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek. Speaking on United’s Inside Carrington podcast, Berrada said the template that delivered last summer’s successful business – the early signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, followed by striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens – would be replicated. “Whatever decisions we take will not just be for the short term but the long term,” he said. The disciplined approach comes as the club prepares to finalise a £35m deal for Atalanta’s Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who will have his medical shortly before pre-season. United are still hunting at least one more central midfielder, with a strong interest in West Ham’s £80m-rated Mateus Fernandes, and also want a striker back-up for Sesko and a left-sided option. Director of football Jason Wilcox, recruitment chief Christopher Vivell and negotiations director Matt Hargreaves are all involved in executing the plan. Meanwhile, former United striker Mason Greenwood could be headed for a reunion with old team-mate Fred at Fenerbahce, after former chairman Aziz Yildirim was re-elected on Sunday. Greenwood, now at Marseille, would cost an estimated £47.5m, and a 40% sell-on clause in his contract would net United around £19m. Yildirim’s principal challenger, Hakan Safi, had claimed a four-year agreement was already secured with Greenwood. The duo played together 92 times for United across four seasons, winning 49 of those matches.