Despite their indifferent form of late in the Premier League, Manchester United are very secure in clinching a top-five position in the top-flight this season.
Indeed, if they were to beat Brentford on Monday night at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick‘s Red Devils would be 11 points ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion, occupying sixth spot in the ever-changing league, despite only winning two of their last five Premier League encounters.
The Champions League could well be returning to the Theatre of Dreams, therefore, after a long exodus away from Europe’s elite competition, with the Champions League chasers hunting down some major signings in the summer to help them readjust back to some luxurious environments.
In particular, the Manchester giants are in the market for a brand-new midfielder, with Casemiro set to leave his long-standing home behind…
Man Utd looking at £44m Casemiro replacement
The five-time Champions League winner will leave a huge hole in United’s midfield department when he waves goodbye to Manchester in the summer.
Picking up ten goal contributions, alongside winning 5.2 duels per Premier League contest this season, it’s clear that the Brazilian is bowing out in style, when he was once a convenient scapegoat for United’s woes.
Several names have been churned out by the rumour mill as to who United will look to replace the midfield veteran with, with reports consistently linking the Red Devils with a move for Real Madrid superstar Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson.
They have also cast their net out to Serie A, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano – via a new YouTube update – stating that Carrick and Co remain firmly in the race for Atalanta machine Ederson, with recruitment chiefs having fielded calls to be kept up to date on the player’s situation.
In full, Romano said: “Atletico Madrid have agreed personal terms with the player but Atleti are not meeting the asking price of £38m. However, Premier League clubs are coming; there are two of them. For Manchester United, he is a player they are monitoring. Manchester United are informed of the situation on Ederson.”
Before United move for the midfielder, though, the Red Devils will need to have certainty over their Champions League status, and who the manager is in the dug-out next season before powering ahead with a move for the player.
Why Ederson could be Man United’s next Pogba
If United are successful in the race for the Atalanta number 13, they could be about to win their next Paul Pogba, as another lively import from Serie A attempts to leave his mark on the Premier League.
It’s safe to say Pogba wasn’t a complete rip-roaring success after leaving Juventus in 2016 for a chance at glory in England, with the £89m star becoming a nuisance towards the close of his Old Trafford career due to his lack of availability.
Still, he did show glimmers of his previous Serie A excellence in United red, with 39 goals and 51 assists to his name from 233 appearances in Manchester, often scoring breathtaking strikes.
He also showed off why Max Allegri hailed him “extraordinary” for his ability to win duels and tackles with ease, as his final Premier League season, despite being so minimal in appearances, saw him win an impressive 5.8 duels on average. Amazingly, even Harry Maguire, who is known for being robust, won fewer, at a 4.4 average.
Winning a jaw-dropping 8.8 duels on average during the 2015/16 season in Serie A, his final before that topsy-turvy United adventure started, Ederson will be hopeful he can come in and be equally as tenacious and energetic as the dazzling Frenchman in his prime, with the 26-year-old also well-known for his boundless vigour in Italy.
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Ederson’s numbers in Serie A (25/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat – per 90 mins* |
Ederson |
|
Games played |
26 |
|
Goals scored |
1 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy* |
40.9 (89%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.5 |
|
Total duels won* |
4.6 |
Winning 4.6 duels on average in the hustle and bustle of Serie A, which isn’t far off Casemiro’s average back in England at 5.2, it’s no wonder that Ederson has been labelled as “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world” by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia. That said, like Pogba, he’s capable of playing all across the midfield, including as more of a box-to-box figure.
Spraying the ball about with ease, too, with a 89% pass accuracy, it’s clear that the three-time Brazil international is far more than just a relentless runner.
Pogba was often noted as having “everything” by Bruno Fernandes, when it came to winning duels, but also stylishly going about his business.
Thankfully, Ederson would be joining the ranks for a more modest price tag, if a move were to accelerate into motion.
“He’s the only player” – Man Utd focused entirely on signing £70m Real Madrid star
The Red Devils are entirely focused on a major signing.