With a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta now agreed, Manchester United have instantly turned their attention towards signing a defensive reinforcement.
Man Utd racing to sign Juventus star
The Red Devils have wasted no time before getting their business underway this summer, reaching an agreement worth an initial €40.5m (£35m), which could rise to €45m (£39m) with potential bonuses, to sign Ederson. The Atalanta midfielder is the start of what could be an expensive rebuild at the heart of Michael Carrick‘s side.
The Brazilian will also have his place in history as the first signing of the Carrick era, but is likely to be joined by a number of names in the coming months.
It’s also worth noting that INEOS beat the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool to Ederson’s signature, once again highlighting the attraction of Old Trafford.
It’s unlikely to be the only time that the Red Devils get one over on Spurs this summer, either. According to Corriere dello Sport in Italy, Man United have dispatched officials to join the race for Pierre Kalulu and are looking to sign the Juventus star ahead of interest from the Lilywhites.
The centre-back has been offered a new deal in Turin, but whilst that remains unsigned, there’s still all too much hope for United to swoop in on another Serie A player.
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Interest from Old Trafford leaves Kalulu with quite the decision to make. He’s got an offer from Juventus on the table, but the Red Devils haven’t exactly hidden how much they rate the 25-year-old, carrying out in-person checks.
He is also represented by CAA Stellar, the same agency who looked after Kobbie Mainoo’s recent new deal at United, which could create a smoother path to negotiations.
Why Man Utd are targeting Pierre Kalulu
It’s no secret that Man United’s focus will be on midfield arrivals this summer. That’s exactly why Ederson has been the first deal agreed and why the likes of Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson are still on their radar. Beyond that, however, they could also do with a centre-back at the peak of their powers. And Kalulu is exactly that.
Harry Maguire is now 33 years old and edging closer to the end of his career, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are still young and Matthijs de Ligt is coming off the back of a long-term injury. Kalulu, meanwhile, is 25 years old and started 37 of a possible 38 Serie A games this season.
|
League stats 25/26 |
Maguire |
Kalulu |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
1,655 |
3,282 |
|
Tackles |
22 |
62 |
|
Duel success |
70% |
53.4% |
|
Pass success |
86.1% |
88.8% |
|
Recoveries |
62 |
158 |
The Frenchman has quality in abundance and United would be wise to swoop in before he puts pen to paper on a new deal at Juventus this summer.
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