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.

Reports suggest Manchester United face a busy summer of departures, with Manuel Ugarte among the names linked to a move. Sky Sport Germany correspondent Florian Plettenberg writes that the Uruguay international is “planning a transfer ” and is said to have “many options” available.

United are preparing to replace Casemiro after his confirmed exit when his contract expires. The Brazilian’s departure is not expected to automatically increase Ugarte’s minutes. The club is said to want a new starter alongside Kobbie Mainoo in 2026–27 and beyond, whether that is Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, Éderson or someone else. United are also increasingly tipped to sign one or possibly two additional players as depth options for the No. 6 and No. 8 positions.

Plettenberg added that Galatasaray was a “concrete” possibility last summer. Juventus have been heavily linked this year, and there has been speculation about Napoli, AC Milan, Lyon, Marseille and Ajax.

The squad changes extend beyond Ugarte. Altay Bayındır is primed to head somewhere—probably Türkiye—where he will start. André Onana will soon finish his Trabzonspor loan but remains behind Senne Lammens in United’s pecking order and likely would not stay for a backup role. Retaining Tom Heaton on another one-year contract as third choice would make sense given the turnover in the department.

Marcus Rashford’s future is uncertain because of Barcelona’s unwillingness to use the option to buy in last summer’s loan agreement. He could return to Old Trafford, head back to Catalonia on a second loan, or sign permanently elsewhere. Rasmus Højlund is set to join Napoli permanently once expected Champions League qualification triggers the conditional obligation to buy in his loan. Jadon Sancho will be out of contract when his Aston Villa loan ends and is not expected to return.

Joshua Zirkzee has remained a fringe figure this season and may seek more minutes elsewhere. Tyrell Malacia will soon become a free agent and a left-back signing is possible.

United signed Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 in a $66.7 million (£50.5 million) deal after his breakout spell with Sporting CP. On arrival in 2023 he said, “When I win the ball back, I’m happy,” he told club media in the French capital upon arriving in 2023. His early adaptation was hampered by wide-scale instability at the club, including uncertainty over Erik ten Hag’s future and the manager’s dismissal by October of 2024. His first Premier League start ended in a 3–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, after which he was immediately dropped.

Reports suggest Casemiro, the five-time Champions League winner and Manchester United’s top earner, may be prepared to lower his salary to enable a summer transfer to Inter Miami. Sky Sports News say the Herons are among several U.S. clubs linked with the midfielder and that their chief advantage is Lionel Messi.

The account adds that Casemiro’s regard for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner could prompt a pay compromise. That concession would matter given the strict wage regulations in place across MLS, which can constrain negotiations even for high-profile targets.

Casemiro has a long history of facing Messi on the biggest stages and, on occasion, has spoken warmly of the Argentine. “I think that Messi marked an era,” Casemiro told Placar in the summer of 2023. “He’s always been a rival, he’s always been at Barcelona, he’s always been at Argentina. There’s no escaping him.”

“It was a pleasure to watch him play, it was a pleasure to play against him. I didn’t have the opportunity to play with him, unfortunately,” he added. At that time Messi was seeking a new club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain earlier that summer. “If you want more, I’m there too,” Casemiro laughed. Is the door open, he was asked. “For Messi, yes!”

Despite supporters and some teammates repeatedly urging the midfielder to remain for “one more year,” the 34-year-old appears set on leaving Manchester United. On that subject he has been equally clear. “I don’t think there’s a chance, there’s no chance,” Casemiro told ESPN . “Mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door, I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans.

“But I think I have to leave in good terms, I have to go out on top. I will be an eternal United fan here in England and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”