Manchester United's priority this summer will be strengthening the midfield department, with the club eyeing potentially three new signings in the middle of the park.

It has been widely reported that Elliot Anderson is United's top priority. However, strong competition from Manchester City and Nottingham Forest's asking price of well in excess of £100 million means any deal will be very complicated.

United also have a long-standing interest in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, and the club have maintained contact with his representatives since trying to sign him last summer.

Sandro Tonali, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Adams and Alex Scott are all also on United's list of targets, and United have now reportedly laid the groundwork to sign Ederson from Atalanta.

United have now reportedly reached an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta.

According to Matteo Moretto, a verbal agreement is in place between the two clubs, and United have also reached an agreement on personal terms with the Brazilian midfielder.

The deal is expected to be finalised in the coming days, with only the very last details on the fees needing to be sorted out.

In his press conference after Atalanta's game on Friday night against Fiorentina, Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino explained that Ederson's absence was due to ongoing negotiations over a transfer to a 'top club'.

It is pivotal that United sign a high-profile midfielder this summer. Ederson has some very useful qualities, but he probably won't start every game, and he has deficiencies, particularly on the ball.

United need to sign one of Anderson, Tchouaméni or Tonali this summer as a player of the calibre is needed to help push United further up the league table.

As already explained, any deal for Anderson will be very complicated, but United are said to still be making attempts to bring the English midfielder to Old Trafford.

A deal for Tchouaméni would also not be straightforward, but he is also said to be high on United's list of targets. 

Roundtable has previously reported that Real Madrid would be open to letting Tchouaméni leave, only if the player himself asks to leave.

It is up to United to try to convince him to join, as the Spanish giants want to keep him. As it stands, he wants to stay at the Bernabéu, and if he does, Madrid will look to renew his contract.

Tonali is also a player United are said to be keen on, but the money that would be required to complete a deal is said to be more than United are currently willing to pay.