Having signed players for both the attack and defence so far this summer, the only area that Man Utd have left untouched so far is the midfield. It’s not for the lack of trying but the Red Devils are yet to agree on a deal to sign a new player.
What Erik ten Hag wants in midfield is an alternative to Casemiro and a potential replacement for him in the future. This has been made abundantly clear by the profile of players they have been linked with so far this summer.
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Ultimately, it looks like the race for a new defensive midfielder is boiling down to two players – Manuel Ugarte of PSG and Ederson of Atalanta. Fabrizio Romano revealed even yesterday that the Uruguayan continues to be Man Utd’s priority for this summer and negotiations are continuing with PSG.
Now, as per Alfredo Pedulla, Man Utd have submitted a bid worth around £42.6m to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson which has promptly been rejected. The Serie A side value the player at around £46.8m and see the player as a key part of their plans.
Who will win this battle of the South Americans?
As this South American rivalry pans out, Man Utd need to make a decision on who they want to focus on. At this stage, it looks like the Red Devils want to ensure they get Ugarte if possible but PSG are never a club to make negotiations this easy.
The Ligue 1 giants are playing ‘hard to get’ for someone who is not even a part of their first-team plans under Luis Enrique. A year after signing for them from Sporting CP, Ugarte is out of the PSG project and needs to find a new club this summer.
If that doesn’t happen though, Ederson is an excellent alternative for Man Utd although he is likely to be more expensive than Ugarte this summer. The 25-year-old, unlike the Uruguayan, is a key part of Atalanta’s plans for the new season.
Irrespective of who Man Utd sign this summer, both players would perfectly suit the system Erik ten Hag uses at Old Trafford. There’s not long left to go in the transfer window with the deadline approaching. Man Utd need to be ready with Plan A and Plan B and make sure one of these two happens before August 31.
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