It has been reported that Éderson's transfer to Manchester United has been called off, but Andrey Santos is set to sign.
Manchester United's priority this summer has always been their midfield rebuild. With Casemiro leaving the club, Michael Carrick's side were always going to have to push for a replacement, while another central midfielder was still necessary.
Manuel Ugarte's injury on World Cup duty has compounded problems, with United still needing three central midfielders, but without any money coming into the club from Ugarte's potential sale. The Uruguay international will almost certainly stay at Old Trafford while he recovers from his ACL injury.
Éderson looked set to join United earlier in the summer after they reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign the Brazilian for £35 million. However, a late call-up by Carlo Ancelotti delayed the transfer until after the competition.
Andrey Santos from Chelsea has also agreed a move to United, with an announcement expected shortly, as he has completed his medical and met with Michael Carrick.
The same cannot be said for Éderson, though. Fabrizio Romano has reported that the transfer is off and will not go ahead, with full details now revealed.
Romano reveals why Éderson will not join Man Utd
"Now we can say that Atalanta received a formal communication about the Éderson deal being off," Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel on Friday evening.
Some reports from English journalists have said that United sources are claiming the deal could still be on, but Romano seems confident that the transfer has been cancelled.
"So Éderson to Man Utd is not happening. The communication has reached Atalanta today, the message coming from Atalanta is very clear," Romano continued. "The message coming from Atalanta is they got a communication that the deal for Éderson is off, it’s not happening.
"But Atalanta also insist that according to them, Éderson is 100 per cent fit, ready to play football, as he was with Brazil at the World Cup."
Éderson was not a regular during Brazil's World Cup campaign, but he made two appearances from the bench - totalling 20 minutes in the competition.
Romano continued: "Man Utd wanted to do extra medical checks on the player and they decided after several sessions of medical tests that Éderson’s transfer has to be called off.
"So the Éderson transfer is not happening."
Who will join instead of Éderson?
United's need for three central midfielders has not changed despite the Éderson transfer now seeming very unlikely.
Andrey Santos will join the club from Chelsea for a deal worth £50 million, including add-ons, but that will not be enough for Carrick's side.
As it stands, Carrick will go into next season with Kobbie Mainoo, Andrey Santos and Tyler Fletcher as options in the double pivot. Jacob Devaney could be added to that, too, if he has a good pre-season.
But Fletcher and Devaney have not played much Premier League football. They have not played any Champions League football, either.
United have been linked with AFC Bournemouth's Alex Scott and AS Roma's Manu Kone in recent days.
Santos may be the only new signing through the door before United's first match of pre-season against Wrexham in Finland next weekend.
