Manchester United’s achievements in the 2025/26 season cannot be underestimated, especially after the struggles under Ruben Amorim at the start of the campaign.
Michael Carrick led the Red Devils to just two defeats in 17 Premier League games – which saw the club finish in third place.
The above-mentioned termination ensured that the 44-year-old manager got a full-time job, but the next term will be when he will be judged more by the officials and his fans.
There is no doubt that he will have plenty of money to spend in the remainder of the transfer window – but it is important that any additions are made to the level required to be successful.
However, it appears that one of their current transfer targets will not be heading to Old Trafford despite the long and ongoing saga.
Why Ederson’s Man Utd deal is now in serious doubt
In recent months, Man Utd have been heavily linked with a deal to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, despite the player being at the ongoing World Cup.
It was even reported at one point that a full agreement had been reached between the player and both clubs – resulting in a £40m deal for his signature.
A deal like this was about to be finalised, depending on the outcome of the player’s test, but his test appeared to cause some problems on Carrick’s side.
After his latest test in Manchester, the Red Devils decided to withdraw from the studies, and the deal is now in serious danger of falling through completely.
His current employers say the 27-year-old is still 100% fit and has no current injury problems that could hamper any move to Old Trafford.
The problems may have stemmed from the meniscus injury Ederson suffered in 2025, but it is still unclear as to the full reason why United walked away from the deal.
Several other sources have indicated that Carrick’s men are yet to pull out of a move for the Brazilian, but the next few days will be important to see if the move can be completed.
The player who was to retire with Ederson at United
Missing out on Ederson will be a blow to INEOS and United, especially given the long pursuit of his signature throughout the summer window.
The need for a new midfielder is high on the club’s agenda in the current market, with a huge hole at the heart of the squad following Casemiro’s departure at the end of June.
Ederson is not the only option currently being looked at by the recruitment team, with Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi currently one of them.
TalkSPORT reported that United are already in talks with the player’s representatives about a move to Old Trafford this window.
Speaking on their YouTube channel in recent days, journalist Ben Jacobs said: “Manchester City are seriously considering a move, Manchester United are also there, they have made an investigation.
“I have also been told that Bayern are among the interested parties; Chelsea also value the player. We will get a move on his future now that Morocco’s exit is confirmed.”
Bouaddi’s deal for Ederson could be a boon for the Red Devils, with the 18-year-old set to outperform the Brazilian in the 2025/26 campaign.
|
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Ligue 1 Statistics (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics (90 percentile) |
Statistics |
|
Games played |
30 |
|
Terms & Conditions |
1 |
|
Pass accuracy |
85% |
|
Opportunities are created |
1.1 |
|
Dribble success |
61% |
|
Ground duels won |
57% |
|
Aerials won |
64% |
|
The fight is done |
2.4 |
Bouaddi, who has been called “special” by commentator Ben Mattinson, managed to do more in 90, while achieving a better duel success rate.
Both of the aforementioned areas highlight his dominance off the ball, something Carrick’s side desperately need after Casemiro’s departure.
In possession, the young man also dominated Ederson, after which he completed most of the dribble attempts and created many chances in the 90.
His success rate puts him in the top 15% of all midfielders in Europe’s top five clubs, which would make him the perfect orchestrator in United’s midfield.
£60m for an 18-year-old would be a huge investment for Carrick’s side, but it’s a deal that could set them up for years to come in the Premier League.
Missing out on Ederson may be a disappointment right now, but it could be a blessing in disguise if officials can secure Bouaddi’s move in this window.
