Despite their lackluster form towards the end of the Premier League, Manchester United have firmly secured a top-five spot in the top flight this season.
Indeed, a win against Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday night would see Michael Carrick’s Red Devils move 11 points clear of Brighton & Hove Albion and take sixth place in the ever-changing league, despite winning just two of their last five Premier League games.
The Champions League is therefore likely to return to the theater of dreams after a long absence from Europe’s elite competition, and Champions League-chasing teams are scouting out some big signings in the summer to readjust to their luxurious surroundings.
Manchester Giants in particular are in the market for a brand new midfielder, with Casemiro set to leave his long-time home…
Manchester United consider replacing Casemiro for £44m
The five-time Champions League winner will leave a huge hole in United’s midfield when he bids farewell to Manchester in the summer.
With 10 goals and 5.2 wins in the Premier League this season, it’s clear the Brazilian is bowing down to the days when he was once a convenient scapegoat for United’s woes.
There are several names being thrown around in the rumors as to who United would target to replace the veteran midfielder, with reports consistently linking the Red Devils with a move for Real Madrid superstars Aurelien Choameni, Sandro Tonali and Elliott Anderson.
They have also cast their net in Serie A, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano saying in a recent update on YouTube that Carrick and others remain firmly in the race to sign Atalanta machine Ederson, with recruitment bosses on the phone to keep them updated on the player’s situation.
Romano said in full: “Atlético Madrid have agreed personal terms with the player, but Atleti have not reached the asking price of £38 million. But there are also Premier League clubs coming, two of them. For Manchester United, he is a player of interest. Manchester United have been informed of Ederson’s situation.”
But before United make a move for the midfielder, the Red Devils will need to be certain of their Champions League status and who their manager will be in the dugout next season before moving forward with the player.
Why Ederson could be Man United’s next Pogba
If United are successful in their bid for Atalanta’s number 13, they could sign the next Paul Pogba, with another energetic player from Serie A looking to make his mark on the Premier League.
It’s fair to say that Pogba wasn’t exactly a huge success after leaving Juventus in 2016 in pursuit of glory in England. The £89m star became a thorn in his side as he approached the end of his Old Trafford career due to lack of quality.
Still, he played 233 games for Manchester, racking up 39 goals and 51 assists, often scoring breathtaking shots and showing glimpses of his former Serie A excellence in United red.
He also showed why manager Max Allegri praised his ability to win duels and tackles with ease, calling him “extraordinary”, with him averaging an astonishing 5.8 duels won on average in his final season in the Premier League, despite playing very few games. Surprisingly, even the famously tough Harry Maguire had fewer wins, averaging 4.4.
Ederson, who averaged an astonishing 8.8 wins in his last Serie A campaign before his turbulent spell at United, will hope to be as tenacious and energetic as the brilliant Frenchman in his prime. The 26-year-old is known in Italy for his boundless energy.
Ederson’s results in Serie A (25/26) | |
|---|---|
Statistics – per 90 minutes* | ederson |
games played | 26 |
Number of points scored | 1 |
assist | 0 |
Pass accuracy* | 40.9 (89%) |
Ball recovery rate* | 4.5 |
Total number of duels won* | 4.6 |
With an average of 4.6 wins in the hustle and bustle of Serie A, a far cry from Casemiro’s 5.2 wins during his time in England, it’s no wonder Ederson has been rated by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia as “the best defensive midfielder in the world”. However, like Pogba, he is capable of playing across midfield, including as a box-to-box player.
It’s clear that the three-time Brazil international is more than just a relentless runner, scattering the ball around with ease and boasting an 89% passing accuracy.
Pogba was often singled out by Bruno Fernandes as having ‘everything’ when it came to winning duels, but he also did his job with style.
Thankfully, if things pick up, Ederson could be brought in at a more modest price.
‘He’s the only player’ – Manchester United fully focused on signing £70m Real Madrid star
The Red Devils are fully focused on a major signing.
