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Manchester United agree Ederson deal
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- Manchester United agree Ederson deal
Ederson has played 180 games for Atalanta - Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Manchester United have started their midfield rebuild by agreeing an initial £35m deal with Atalanta for Ederson.
The Brazilian midfielder, 26, will have a medical before signing a long-term deal at Old Trafford after being tracked over the last two years.
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With add-ons, the overall package could rise to £38m.
Ederson will bolster Michael Carrick's midfield following the departure of Casemiro as a free agent and the uncertainty surrounding Manuel Ugarte's future.
Manchester United require midfield reinforcements following the departure of Casemiro - Adam Vaughan/EPA
Atlético Madrid were also keen on Ederson but have instead moved for Wolverhampton Wanderers' João Gomes, clearing the way for United to acquire a player who had 12 months left on his contract at Atalanta.
The deal means the Serie A club will make a healthy profit after signing Ederson for about £20m four seasons ago.
It was agreed that he would sit out Atalanta's final league game of the season, against Fiorentina, as negotiations with United gathered pace.
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He will become Carrick's first signing as United head coach, with as many as three midfielders leaving this summer. Carrick is expected to sign more replacements to help mount a Premier League title challenge next season.
United are admirers of Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, although Manchester City are also in the race for the England international, who is valued at over £100m.
Extensive work has been undertaken on a number of potential options including Mateus Fernandes , the young Portugal midfielder who was relegated with West Ham United. They have also previously held talks over Brighton and Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba.
Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouaméni has also been monitored , although that deal is seen as complicated as José Mourinho is arriving as manager at Real and there are also presidential elections at the Bernabéu.
United permanently offload Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund has completed a £43m move from United to Napoli following his season on loan with the Italian club.
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United have made a loss on the player they signed from Atalanta in 2023 for £64m, with the Denmark striker struggling in his two seasons at Old Trafford.
After scoring 14 Premier League goals over two campaigns, Hojlund was loaned to Napoli and scored 16 goals in all competitions last season, with qualification for the Champion League triggering a long-term move to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
While Hojlund won the 2024 FA Cup with United, the promise he showed when he celebrated a goal with Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – the three young players sitting on an advertising hoarding – was never fulfilled in England.
And then there was one… only Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United's three young guns remain at Old Trafford after Rasmus Hojlund joined Alejandro Garnacho in sealing a transfer away from the club - Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Napoli will pay about £38.5m for Hojlund up front, with the rest of the fee factoring in agreements in place for the loan last season.
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"That feels weird, because for the past year I already feel like a Napoli player," Hojlund wrote on his social media platforms after Napoli qualified for the Champions League. "The way you fans supported me, made me feel like home and let me find my confidence again is something I'm so grateful for.
"To say goodbye to Manchester United is something that kinda feels emotional too. My childhood dream came true by playing at Old Trafford in a red jersey."
