INEOS’ next Dorgu: Man Utd close in on personal terms with “monster” signing

A seismic day for Manchester, with Friday afternoon seeing Michael Carrick confirmed as the new permanent boss at Manchester United, while Pep Guardiola’s exit from the Etihad has now been officially confirmed.

The Catalan coach has had a decade-long grip on English football, yet as Erik ten Hag prophesied back in 2022, “eras come to an end”, with Guardiola departing after failing to win the Premier League title in each of his last two seasons.

With Jurgen Klopp already flying the nest at Anfield, and with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the grips of chaos, there could well be a changing of the guard occurring in the top-flight.

On stable footing with a third-place finish already confirmed, now is the time for Carrick and United to seize their moment, assembling a squad capable of competing for major honours again heading into next season.

Man Utd close to agreeing personal terms with first Carrick signing

There are no secrets in football these days, sadly, with Carrick’s confirmation – much like Guardiola’s exit – having been widely reported in recent weeks.

A surprise announcement on the Old Trafford turf last weekend would have gone down nicely, yet the Englishman can at least head into the final game of the season with his future secure, ready to look forward to pre-season and, hopefully, a first full campaign at the helm.

The 44-year-old has been rewarded for steering a previously inconsistent United side back into the Champions League with room to spare, yet as defeats to the likes of Leeds United and Newcastle United have showcased, that success has somewhat papered over the cracks, with the first-team squad in desperate need of reinforcement.

A first signing of the summer could be on the way, however, with journalist Ben Jacobs – speaking to the United Stand – having provided the latest on INEOS’ pursuit of Atalanta star, Ederson.

According to Jacobs, the Brazilian is ready to join Carrick’s side and is happy with a five-year deal, with the 26-year-old one of a string of targets that the club are close to agreeing personal terms with.

This follows prior reports which indicated that United were confident of wrapping up a deal swiftly for the £39m man, with Ederson currently in the final 12 months or so of his contract.

Why Ederson could be another Dorgu-style signing for Man Utd

A chaotic summer of 2024 was not exactly the best way for INEOS to get underway, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee already looking set to depart, while both Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt have endured injury woes this season.

Since the start of 2025, however, the new regime appear to have got their act together, kicking off the year by signing Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu in the January.

In Dorgu’s case, the 20-year-old was a relatively unknown quantity following his arrival from Serie A side Lecce, having only made 57 appearances for the Italian side at that stage.

What followed was a sticky first six months or so, memorably sent off against Ipswich Town, with the Dane taking time to adjust to life in English football.

There has subsequently been a real uplift in 2025/26, however, with Dorgu notably rifling home against the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle, while also netting the second in Carrick’s first game back in charge against Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The versatile youngster appears to possess the necessary physical attributes to be able to flourish in the Premier League, such an asset with his pace and power when running down that left flank.

Ederson, while a more senior figure at 26, could potentially prove another surprise hit in Manchester, with doubts emerging at present as to whether this deal is merely Ugarte mark two.

Well, like Dorgu, the South American’s physicality and mobility should ensure he very much suits the modern style of Premier League football, having been hailed as a “monster” back in Bergamo by journalist Ryan Taylor.

The United target notably caught the eye as Atalanta overcame a previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side in the 2024 Europa League final, having been something of a machine in his aggressive number eight role.

In that statement 3-0 win, Ederson successfully completed 100% of his tackles, 100% of his attempted dribbles and 100% of his aerial duels, having also won six of his ten ground duels as he dominated in the centre of the park.

That was up against a Leverkusen midfield that included a certain Granit Xhaka, with the £39m-rated star showcasing that he can deliver on the big occasion.

Of course, he won’t be United’s marquee signing of the year, but, like Dorgu, he may well surprise a few, should he be given the time to adapt after leaving Italy behind for England.