An amazing Mbeumo repeat: INEOS deep in talks to sign £80m star for Man Utd

The first signing of the Michael Carrick era at Manchester United is inbound. The Red Devils are set to welcome Atalanta midfielder Ederson to the club in the forthcoming weeks.

That will be one big box ticked in the hierarchy’s bid to improve the United team with Carrick and Co needing not one but two midfielders to fix a hole in the squad.

Casemiro will never play for the club again and will leave once his contract expires at the end of this month. Manuel Ugarte also looks set to leave after an indifferent time at United.

The feeling is that once they have completed a deal for Ederson in a move that could be worth around £35m, they will go after a bigger name and a pricier option for the middle of the park.

Man Utd could sign £80m star after Ederson

Hailed as “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world” by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia, it’s safe to say Ederson looks like a valuable addition to Carrick’s ranks.

While not a household name, the Brazilian has been one of the most effective and consistent midfielders in Serie A for a while now.

Since joining from Salernitana in 2022/23, he has barely missed a game of league football, playing 30 or more times in each of his four seasons at Atalanta. A warrior, he certainly looks capable of replacing the attributes Casemiro will leave behind.

So, who could be next? Well, West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford and it would appear they are ramping up their plans to sign the midfielder.

According to Caught Offside, United are ‘acclelerating’ talks to sign the player and are deep in conversation with Fernandes’ representatives regarding a move.

Fernandes himself is said to want the move to United, attracted by the idea of playing in the Champions League.

While club to club talks are yet to take place, the Hammers have placed an £80m valuation on his head according to reports from Gary Jacob the Times on Monday evening.

Why Fernandes could repeat Mbeumo’s success at United

Last summer, United knew they needed a switch of attack. For too long they’ve been signing project players from abroad. See Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as the prime examples.

However, in the form of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, they identified two of the best players in the Premier League outside of the typical big six. It’s worked a treat.

Fresh off a season where Mbeumo scored 20 times for Brentford and Cunha bagged 17 goals for Wolves, they took to life at Old Trafford like ducks to water.

Their adaptation period was smooth. No hiccups were found and they hit the ground running swiftly. Neither player hit the same heights they managed in 2024/25 but they still caught the eye. Mbeumo netted 12 and Cunha beat the goalkeeper on ten occasions.

In the shape of Fernandes, they would not sign a similar player but it would be a repeat of the strategy that worked so well a year ago. Like Mbeumo and Cunha, the West Ham midfielder is Premier League-proven and would be ready to hit the ground running with ease.

Unlike Ederson, little adaptation period would be required. The Portuguese midfielder knows the pace of the league and more than that, he’s been dazzling in it for a while now.

Fernandes may well have suffered back to back relegations with Southampton and the Irons but he really stood up for his side in both seasons. In short, aged just 21, this is one of the best young midfielders in Europe.

So, what’s he all about when it comes to attributes? Well, compared to U21 midfielders in Europe’s top seven leagues throughout 2025/26, the Hammers star ranked first for possession won, defensive duels won and interceptions. He’s also second for progressive passes completed.

More of a deep-lying midfielder by trade, United would be getting a multi-faceted midfielder, someone capable of carrying the ball long distances without being tackled. He’s something of a hybrid between Casemiro and Paul Pogba. He mops up play like the Brazilian but eats up ground like the elusive Frenchman.

Throughout 2025/26, only two players in the Premier League, Declan Rice and Fernandes, achieved a higher ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry. That’s essentially defined by how much forward ground a player gains via dribbling before losing the ball.

A superstar in the making, this could be just the signing that helps transform United’s midfield heading into 2025/26. Ederson looks great but Fernandes, even at £80m, would be an exquisite signing from INEOS, Jason Wilcox and Co.