It is almost certain that Atalanta's Ederson will become the first signing of the transfer window for Manchester United; however, many people are still unsure as to what he is like and how he became such a big target for the Red Devils.
Ederson has spent a solid four years in Bergamo, showing his consistency throughout his time. His injury record is also very good, only missing 10 games through either injury or illness whilst playing for Atalanta.
He has not just been a rock in the midfield, ranking very highly for interceptions and ground duels in comparison to the rest of Europe, but he can also find the back of the net.
Scoring 15 times in the last three years for Atalanta, and in big games as well, such as away to Barcelona and at the San Siro, proving that he is a man for the big games.
Ederson will also be a very small dent into Manchester United's transfer budget, costing just under £40 million. His wages are reportedly around £75,000, making him one of the cheaper signings of recent seasons.
Furthermore, United setting the tone early for the transfer window by signing a player in the opening weeks is always a positive. Last year, it was Matheus Cunha, who ended up being a success, and hopefully, this year, Ederson will follow suit.
Finally, Michael Carrick has already approved of the player, due to his versatility in playing either in a holding role or a more advanced role. Carrick has also stated that he is not a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, meaning he will not be the only player carrying the burden of filling Casemiro's shoes.
The Negatives of the Deal
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Brazilian midfielder, Ederson. With the Serie A not being as competitive as it has been in the past, and Atalanta not being a European Giant club, not many people have seen a lot of him.
Furthermore, at 26 years old and nearly reaching 27, he has only managed to obtain three caps for his nation, and is not going to this year's World Cup; thus creating more uncertainty around his name.
Another worrying thing about Ederson is the lack of other big clubs lurking around him. United have been linked with him for two years and seem to be the only big club interested, which either means he's a hidden gem or nothing special.
Also, United's business with Atalanta thus far has been somewhat hit and miss. With Amad taking many seasons to finally nail down a spot in the starting team for United, and Rasmus Hojlund failing to adapt to the Premier League.
Who could be next after Ederson?
Now that Manchester United have almost signed a player who ticks almost every box, being an eight, a six, tall, strong, a decent goal threat, and cheap, they can now start to focus on their big-money midfielder.
If United favour a player who is already familiar with English football, then West Ham's Mateus Fernandes could be next.
Roundtable reported on Tuesday afternoon that, following the completion of Ederson's transfer, the club will step up talks with West Ham for Fernandes.
However, it's also been widely noted that the Hammers would want to demand up to £80 million for the player this summer, which United would be unlikely to pay.
Looking beyond England, Aurélien Tchouaméni has been linked with United frequently. On paper, he seems like a perfect fit alongside Kobbie Mainoo, being one of the best in Europe for duels won and forward passes, he would cater very well for Mainoo and United's needs.
However, despite all the drama circulating in Real Madrid's dressing room, president Florentino Perez stated recently that he believes the Frenchman will remain with the club this summer.
