Manchester United are on the hunt for a midfielder before the start of next season and an opportunity is coming to sign Atalanta’s Éderson.
Ruben Amorim’s team has lacked control and bite in central midfield in the opening few months of 2025–26, with Manuel Ugarte notably not doing enough to impress the manager. Kobbie Mainoo is also struggling to command regular game time, with starts in that area of the pitch predominantly going to Casemiro, who lacks the mobility of yesteryear, and the more attack-minded Bruno Fernandes.
United were reported just this week to have compiled a seven-strong shortlist of midfield options with a view to signing at least one by the end of the summer transfer window. All on that list bar Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller are Premier League-based, or have prior Premier League experience.
But Atalanta’s Éderson is emerging as a separate opportunistic possibility due to a contract in Bergamo that expires in 2027 and currently doesn’t look as though it will be renewed.
The 26-year-old Brazilian was previously valued by Atalanta at as much €75 million (£65.7 million, $86.9 million) but could now be sold in 2026 for less than half that amount.
Representative André Cury has specifically talked up a move to Barcelona, where the Brazilian agent has close contacts—he helped take Neymar to Camp Nou in 2013, with Philippe Coutinho, Yerry Mina, Arthur and Paulinho among many other clients involved with the club. But finding a new team for Éderson on a bigger stage than Atalanta appears to be the primary motivation.
Talking up Éderson’s “physicality and stamina,” Cury said to : “It’s an opportunity because his contract is expiring. Atalanta hasn’t wanted to sell him despite receiving very high offers. I think they’ll complete the transfer in this winter or summer window.”
He added: “[Atalanta were asking for] a lot of money, between €60 million and €75 million. He’s close to the end of his contract, they could reduce his price by half, to between €30 million and €40 million, but he’s a spectacular player with some of the best stats in Europe for his position.”
