Manchester United are continuing to assess central midfield options ahead of a pivotal summer transfer window as the club prepares to return to the Champions League. Interest in Atalanta’s Éderson has reportedly gathered pace as the club weighs alternatives ahead of targeted offers.

Éderson is viewed as a potentially more affordable option while he approaches the final year of his Atalanta contract, compared with targets such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba, who could push fees much higher. Sky Sports report that interest in $54 million (£40 million) rated Éderson has “stepped up” and that West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is also being tracked. The suggestion is that United want to be ready to make offers once their priority targets are finalised.

Both Sky Sports and the Daily Mail have cautioned that speculation of an agreed transfer for Éderson was premature. United’s chances, however, have improved after Atlético Madrid moved their focus to João Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

At 26, Éderson has an outside shot at World Cup selection but is named in Brazil’s preliminary squad, which could make arranging a move easier. By contrast, Elliot Anderson would arrive later if England’s World Cup involvement continues. Tonali and Baleba will not be at the tournament after Italy and Cameroon, respectively, failed to qualify.

The role Éderson would occupy at Old Trafford depends on other arrivals. If Kobbie Mainoo is restored as the deep-lying playmaker under Michael Carrick, who now looks destined to become the new permanent manager, Éderson would offer a complementary, all-action ball-winning presence in the Casemiro mould alongside Bruno Fernandes at No. 10.

On his strengths, Tiago Nunes, Éderson’s former manager at Corinthians, told Sky Sports in 2024: “He has two main strengths,” Tiago Nunes, Éderson’s former manager at Corinthians, told Sky Sports in 2024. “Firstly, on the pitch, he has great physical strength, with the ability to play box-to-box, back and forth, sustaining the pace of the game. Secondly, he has a very strong mentality, with a very clear awareness of what he wants.”

United’s tiered recruitment approach could still produce as many as three midfield signings, each from a different price bracket, as the club prepares for 2025/26.

Manchester United look set to favour Michael Carrick for the permanent manager role after Andoni Iraola was apparently taken off the club’s shortlist. Carrick returned to Old Trafford in January as interim and, by securing Champions League qualification with three games to spare, has become the leading internal candidate.

Iraola, who opted to leave Bournemouth and had emerged as a credible external alternative, is reportedly “no longer under consideration,” according to the Daily Mail. That development strengthens Carrick’s position after a run of positive results under his stewardship.

Carrick’s managerial résumé is limited at the top level — his only permanent appointment to date was Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship — but his long association with the club counts for a great deal. He spent 15 years at Old Trafford as a player, captain and then assistant coach. Club figures have been “hugely impressed” by the results and by the way he has “galvanized” a previously underperforming squad.

Those internal endorsements appear to have translated into formal momentum. According to The Athletic, club officials are set to formally recommend a permanent contract for Carrick in an upcoming meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Iraola’s stock rests on three strong seasons at Bournemouth and earlier overachievement with Rayo Vallecano. His high-tempo style was seen as a possible fit on paper, and he could yet leave the Cherries in the Champions League if results in the next three weeks go in Bournemouth’s favour. The counterargument is a perceived lack of elite-level experience and the uncertainty of whether club-building success can be replicated at a club with greater pressure and smaller margins for error. The draft cites previous high-profile moves that did not go to plan at other clubs, including David Moyes, Graham Potter at Chelsea, and Unai Emery at Arsenal.

Separately, Iraola is reportedly a primary target for Crystal Palace to replace Oliver Glasner.

Manchester United produced a flat, goalless performance at the Stadium of Light, settling for a 0-0 draw that underlined a growing concern in midfield. Michael Carrick’s side were marginally better after the restart, but their tame attacking play left Sunderland largely untroubled and reliant on chances through a soft centre.

Carrick could rely on his defence to preserve a clean sheet, but the absence of Casemiro, who leaves the club at the end of the season, was evident. The Brazilian missed the game through a knock, and United were given a practical glimpse of life without their destructive defensive midfielder. Manuel Ugarte was also absent, so Carrick named Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo in a double pivot.

Mount did not provide the required defensive protection. In fairness, Mount is not a holding midfielder and was unsurprisingly bullied by more physical opponents, but the lack of resistance in midfield emphasised Casemiro’s value in providing balance. Sunderland exploited the Casemiro-shaped hole in the first half and kept consistent pressure on United.

Carrick adjusted at half time, moving Mainoo into the sole No. 6, pushing Mount further forward and asking Bruno Fernandes to drop slightly deeper. The tweak had limited effect as Sunderland continued to probe and create the better openings.

Player ratings reflected mixed individual displays. Senne Lammens earned redemption with an impressive all-round display between the posts and several timely saves. Noussair Mazraoui held firm against Chemsdine Talbi. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez were largely steady at the back, while Luke Shaw produced another unflappable defensive outing. Up front, Joshua Zirkzee offered little in place of the injured Benjamin Šeško. Amad Diallo showed endeavour but surrendered possession too often. Matheus Cunha was quiet and missed late chances.

Substitutions brought fresh legs but little in the way of a decisive spark. The match ended level, with possession split 50-50, Sunderland xG 1.16 to United 0.57, and Sunderland enjoying 15 shots to United’s 11, including four on target to United’s one.

GK: Senne Lammens—8.9
RB: Noussair Mazraoui—8.2
CB: Harry Maguire—7.1
CB: Lisandro Martínez—7.4
LB: Luke Shaw—6.9
CM: Mason Mount—6.9
CM: Kobbie Mainoo—7.1
RW: Amad Diallo—6.4
AM: Bruno Fernandes—7.4
LW: Matheus Cunha—7.2
ST: Joshua Zirkzee—6.0
SUB: Patrick Dorgu (65’ for Zirkzee)—6.1
SUB: Bryan Mbeumo (75’ for Amad)—5.9

Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher.