Atalanta midfielder Ederson dos Santos has been a target for La Liga clubs for a while, with Atletico Madrid previously seen as the front-runners for his signature. However, recent reports indicate that Manchester United have now surged ahead in the competition to sign him.
With Ederson’s contract expiring next summer, Atalanta is eager to sell him this season rather than lose him for free. The 26-year-old was pursued by Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window, but their Sporting Director, Mateu Alemany, failed to finalize a deal and subsequently signed Obed Vargas and Rodrigo Mendoza to replace the departed Conor Gallagher.
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Manchester United Overtakes Atletico Madrid in Ederson Pursuit
According to Matteo Moretto, Manchester United has now taken the lead over Atletico Madrid in their attempts to sign Ederson. While Atletico has been negotiating with Ederson for quite some time, aiming to secure his transfer early to stave off interest from Premier League teams, their efforts may have come too late.
Moretto highlights that while Atletico has an agreement in place with Ederson at around €4 million per year, Manchester United is reportedly willing to offer €4.5 million annually, making their proposal more attractive.
No Deal Yet with Atalanta
However, neither Manchester United nor Atletico Madrid has secured a deal with Atalanta, which hindered Atletico’s winter transfer efforts. Atalanta is reportedly demanding €45 million for Ederson, but it seems neither club is currently willing to meet that price for a player with only a year left on his contract. Moretto suggests that Ederson’s future will likely be resolved once Atalanta lowers their asking price.
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It appears that Atletico will need to increase their offer to secure a deal. Ederson is likely seen as a competitor for positions held by players such as Johnny Cardoso, alongside Pablo Barrios and Koke Resurreccion, who are also vying for midfield positions.