Ederson's transfer fee of £38 million could drop even further! The reason behind Manchester United's first signing has been revealed: setting the tone early.

The transfer of Ederson to Manchester United is now about timing, not possibility. According to sources, both clubs have the paperwork ready, but some minor issues remain. The actual cost could be less than the previously mentioned £38 million. Ederson is in Rio de Janeiro, awaiting final clearance, ready to fly to Manchester at short notice.

According to earlier reports, Manchester United will pay a fixed fee of £35 million for Ederson, plus £3 million in add-ons. For a player with only one year left on his contract, this price is still considered high.

However, Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic said: "The final details haven't been settled yet, but an agreement is very close. The deal is expected to go through smoothly. I'm told the transfer fee will be a bit lower than some of the figures being reported. I recall reports suggesting around £38 million including various clauses. But in reality, it might be slightly less. Both sides are in the final stages of negotiation, and personal terms won't be an issue."

According to him, Manchester United chose Ederson as their first summer signing to set the tone for the window, showing that the club does not intend to overspend. "If they can sign Ederson for around £30 million with some add-ons, it sends a message to other potential targets that United won't overpay. This sets a reasonable and workable benchmark for the club. If they instead started by spending £80-90 million on a player, that would set a high bar and might blow the budget."

Manchester United scouts had been monitoring Ederson before this season, drawn to his strong physique, high work rate, and box-to-box playing style. Ederson is not meant to be a direct replacement for Casemiro, especially not in terms of goal output—fans should not expect the 26-year-old Brazilian to score as many as the "Fat Tiger" has this season.

Whitwell added: "According to those who have watched Ederson far more than I have, his range is exceptional. He has the ability to cover the entire pitch, which is something Manchester United need. His speed and stamina are qualities the club has been lacking. While he may not be the best passer, he can disrupt opposition play and take on various roles."

As is well known, Ederson was left out of Brazil's 26-man World Cup squad, which has led some Manchester United fans to question his ability. However, The Athletic explains that this was due to style considerations. Ancelotti chose to build the "Seleção" around the 34-year-old Manchester United veteran Casemiro, and Ederson was deemed incompatible for a partnership.

Carl Anka of The Athletic explained: "I contacted several Brazilian journalists to learn more about why Ederson wasn't selected. The consensus is that Brazil's current system is built around Casemiro. Casemiro sees Fabinho as a better backup who can step into his role when needed. As a result, Ederson gets little playing time, and even when given opportunities, he is not seen as someone who can play alongside Casemiro."

After signing Ederson as their first summer signing, who will Manchester United target next? Many fans hope it will be Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali, but the 26-year-old Italian midfielder's transfer fee is a major obstacle. British media generally believe that United find Tonali's asking price too high to accept. This week, Italian media claimed that both he and Ederson are on United's shortlist. However, these reports are thought to originate from Italy, and Tonali's fee exceeds what United is willing to pay.

Another transfer expert, Ben Jacobs, said that the fee for Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson could serve as a benchmark for other clubs. He explained: "Newcastle's asking price for Tonali has been around £100 million or more for a year now. In the current market, that's reasonable. Most midfielders now cost between £60 million and £100 million, and Tonali's price falls at the upper end. If I were Newcastle, I'd wait to see what Anderson's final transfer fee is, then use that as a reference to set Tonali's price."

The Athletic agrees with this view and believes that West Ham's Matheus Fernandes, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, and Brighton's Carlos Baleba will also watch Anderson's transfer progress. The 23-year-old England international could move to Manchester City this summer.

Among them, Baleba might be dropped by Manchester United because his playing style is similar to Ederson's. "Two or three months ago, I thought United would likely sign him. But things have changed since then. United may be willing to overlook his performance this season and the factors affecting it. However, Brighton might still demand a high fee that United cannot afford. United are still monitoring Baleba, but they may have decided not to pursue him, though it's not entirely clear yet."