Man Utd Holding Fire on Ederson Deal as Structural Uncertainty Clouds Atalanta Move

Manchester United's pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson remains in limbo despite personal terms being agreed and a verbal offer of €45m tabled, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has explained.

With Casemiro departing on a free transfer and Manuel Ugarte potentially heading for the exit, United are intent on bolstering Michael Carrick's midfield options ahead of their Champions League return. The club is targeting up to three new recruits in the engine room, with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouameni, and AC Milan's Sandro Tonali all on the radar.

Ederson, the three-cap Brazilian international, had appeared the most imminent arrival. United have tabled a €45m proposal that sits comfortably within Atalanta's €45m-€50m asking price, whilst the player himself has prioritised a move to Old Trafford.

Yet the transfer remains unresolved. Romano outlined two significant obstacles preventing the deal from reaching completion.

Internal Deliberation at United

First, United have not yet committed to pushing the move across the line. The club is still weighing whether to proceed with Ederson or redirect resources towards alternative midfield targets. Romano explained that United's approach differs from the conventional model—rather than deciding on a player and then pursuing them, the Red Devils are laying groundwork for multiple deals simultaneously, ready to pounce if their primary targets become unavailable.

A delegation from United recently travelled to Italy to discuss Ederson and other transfer business, yet the club remains in a holding pattern pending an internal decision.

Atalanta's Structural Upheaval

The second complication stems from Atalanta's own transition period. Maurizio Sarri is arriving as the club's new manager, whilst a fresh sporting director will also be appointed. Until these appointments are formally confirmed, Atalanta are reluctant to finalise any transfers involving key players, particularly someone of Ederson's calibre.

This structural uncertainty means neither party is prepared to commit fully. Ederson continues to await United's verdict, whilst Atalanta waits for their new hierarchy to be in place. The situation reflects the messy reality of modern football transfers—plenty of activity, yet little certainty until the final paperwork is signed.