Despite their lackluster performance of late in the Premier League, Manchester United are very secure in securing a top-five finish in the top flight this season.
Indeed, should they beat Brentford on Monday night at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick’s Red Devils would be 11 points clear of Brighton and Hove Albion, who are sixth in the ever-changing league, despite winning two of their last five Premier League games.
The Champions League may be returning to the Theater of Dreams, and so, after a long absence from Europe’s top competition, Champions League chasers are on the hunt for big players in the summer to help them return to luxury.
In particular, the Manchester giants are in the market for a brand new midfielder, and Casemiro will be leaving his longtime home behind…
Man Utd are eyeing a £44m replacement for Casemiro
The five-time Champions League winner will leave a huge hole in United’s midfield when he bids farewell to Manchester in the summer.
Picking up ten goals, and winning 5.2 duels in each Premier League match this season, it is clear that the Brazilian is bowing out in style, where he was once the perfect scapegoat for United’s problems.
Several names have been revealed in the rumors of who United will be looking to replace the veteran midfielder, with reports constantly linking the Red Devils with Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson.
They have also cast the net in Serie A, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano – in a new YouTube update – stating that Carrick and Co remain firm in the race for Atalanta’s Ederson, with recruitment chiefs making calls to keep up to date with the player’s condition.
In full, Romano said: “Atletico Madrid have agreed personal terms with the player but Atleti do not meet the asking price of £38m. However, Premier League clubs are coming; there are two of them. For Manchester United, he is a player they are monitoring. Manchester United have been informed of the situation with Ederson.”
Before United can make a move for the midfielder, the Red Devils will need to be sure of their Champions League status, and who the manager is in charge of next season before they can move forward with their pursuit of a player.
Why Ederson could be Man United’s next Pogba
If United are successful in the race for Atalanta’s number 13, they could potentially win the next Paul Pogba, as another from Serie A tries to make his mark in the Premier League.
It’s safe to say that Pogba hasn’t been a roaring success after leaving Juventus in 2016 for a chance to shine in England, with the £89m star becoming a nuisance towards the end of his Old Trafford career due to his unavailability.
Nevertheless, he has shown excellent Serie A performance in United red, with 39 goals and 51 assists to his name in 233 games in Manchester, often scoring spectacular strikes.
He also showed why Max Allegri praises him “extraordinarily” for his ability to win duels and tackles with ease, as his last Premier League season, despite looking so young, saw him win 5.8 duels on average. Surprisingly, even Harry Maguire, known for his power, won a few, with a rating of 4.4.
Having won an average of 8.8 league games in the 2015/16 season in Serie A, the final before the start of United’s game, Ederson will be hoping he can step in and be as dynamic as the Frenchman was in his first season, with the 26-year-old also well known for his fitness in Italy.
|
Ederson’s numbers in Serie A (25/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Maths – in 90 minutes* |
Ederson |
|
Games played |
26 |
|
Goals were scored |
1 |
|
It helps |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy* |
40.9 (89%) |
|
Football recovery* |
4.5 |
|
Total winnings* |
4.6 |
Winning an average of 4.6 duels in the chaos of Serie A, not far from Casemiro’s average in England at 5.2, it is no wonder that Ederson was called “the strongest midfielder in the world” by Italian content creator Damiano Coccia. That means that, like Pogba, he can play anywhere in midfield, including in box-to-box matches.
Spraying the ball around with ease, and, with a pass accuracy of 89%, it’s clear that the Brazil international is more than just a tireless runner.
Pogba was often described as “everything” by Bruno Fernandes, when it comes to winning duels, but also running his business.
Thankfully, Ederson will join the ranks for a decent price tag, if the move can be expedited.
“He’s the only player” – Man Utd focus on signing £70m Real Madrid star
The Red Devils are completely focused on big signings.
