Manchester United have moved ahead of Atletico Madrid in the race for Ederson, with a verbal agreement now said to be in place, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The 26-year-old Atalanta midfielder has made a Premier League switch his top priority, putting United in pole position as the summer market tightens.
United first identified Ederson as a credible midfield option in the summer of 2025, and the latest report suggests they have now turned that interest into something far more concrete. Atletico had already struck a personal terms agreement with the Brazilian in February or March, but they have not been willing to match Atalanta's asking price, leaving the Spanish club stuck on the wrong side of the deal.
The fee under discussion is said to have fallen into the €45m-€50m range, down from earlier valuations of €60m and €70m. That drop has changed the shape of the chase. Ederson's agent, Andre Cury, has said his client has placed himself on the market, and the midfielder's contract runs until 2027, with no extension talks ongoing.
The timing matters because United's midfield remains thin. Casemiro has already left, Manuel Ugarte's future is still uncertain, and the club lacks a reliable ball-winner who can also contribute going forward. Ederson's profile fits that gap. He scored five goals and made two assists across 49 games for Atalanta last season, a return that underlines why he has drawn attention from multiple clubs.
Tuttomercatoweb said United chiefs are sprinting towards completing the deal, while Arsenal are also described as growing competition in the background. For now, though, the balance of the pursuit has shifted toward Old Trafford, and the reduced price tag plus Ederson's willingness to move to England may be enough to turn a long-running target into a done deal.
