Manchester United has reached an official agreement for Ederson, with a medical examination imminent! The details of the first signing are revealed, and the announcement is preliminarily scheduled.

An agreement has been officially reached between Manchester United and Atalanta from Italy for the acquisition of 26-year-old Brazilian holding midfielder Ederson, costing up to €45 million (£39 million) including add-ons. This marks the first addition under Carrick's management, and the club views the deal as a statement of intent for the upcoming campaign and the summer market, with a desire to expedite their reconstruction.

According to The Athletic's authoritative David Ornstein, Ederson's fixed transfer fee is €40.5 million (£35 million), plus a maximum of €4.5 million (£4 million) in performance-related add-ons. Although there were rumors that Manchester United might further reduce the price, in the end Atalanta got what they originally wanted, similar to previous sales of Amad Diallo and Rasmus Højlund.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed: "Ederson to Manchester United, here we go! Agreement reached with Atalanta on a total package of €45 million including add-ons, contracts are ready. The deal is done pending medical and official announcement. Ederson will sign a four-year contract with an option to extend."

Ederson now needs to schedule a trip to Manchester for his medical examination, with all parties planning to complete the transfer in early July. Therefore, United fans need not be impatient. Ederson has made three appearances for the Brazilian national team but was not selected for this summer's World Cup squad, giving him ample time to handle the formalities.

Ederson has long been courted by several top clubs, but he prioritized a move to Manchester United. With his contract running until the summer of 2027, United managed to negotiate a price far lower than Atalanta's previous demands. This time last year, the Red Devils had also made contact, when Atalanta were asking for £60 million!

Ederson is the type of player admired by European coaches; the fact that Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid was interested in signing him speaks volumes. He has the ability to neutralize potential threats in midfield, something most of United's current defensive midfielders struggle to do. At Atalanta, Ederson contributed impressive tackles and interceptions, while also accurately reading opponents' movements to regain possession and help his team control the game.

This style allows him to complement Kobbie Mainoo, who has recently been renewed and is set to be the core at United. Ederson also slightly edges Casemiro in ball retention, often opting for short passes to teammates or dribbling forward himself. However, his goal-scoring ability, particularly in aerial duels, is certainly far inferior to "Fat Tiger" (Casemiro), who scored nine goals in the just-concluded season. Ederson, on the other hand, managed only three goals and two assists in 41 matches last season.

Nevertheless, Ederson is exactly the type of box-to-box midfielder favored by modern managers; he may not grab headlines, but he helps the entire team function smoothly, allowing his teammates to fully express their strengths. United have been monitoring Ederson since last summer, and the scouting and transfer departments ultimately believe he can partially replace Casemiro's role.

With this Ederson deal, Manchester United aim to demonstrate their determination to strengthen the squad in the summer window while adhering to the principle of not overpaying. Carrick's team will return to the Champions League next season, and with Casemiro already departed and possibly more players leaving, the midfield still needs further reinforcement. If Manuel Ugarte leaves, United could end up signing three new midfielders in total.

BBC's Simon Stone has revealed that Manchester United's next target is West Ham United's 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Matheus Fernandes, who also does not need to participate in the World Cup. The Red Devils have been in contact with his agent for months, and the player is keen on the move. However, the transfer fee will be key; West Ham are asking for £80 million, while United hope to secure a deal for under £50 million.