Manchester United have just over one month to ramp up their summer transfer plans before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America.
Man United‘s 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Saturday very much had the feeling of a game after a club had secured qualification for the Champions League, with little to play for except for wrapping up third position ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa.
The Red Devils remain on course to do that after all three clubs drew over the latest matchday, with only one point needed in their final two games to secure third.
Michael Carrick won’t want to end the season poorly for two reasons though. United chiefs are still yet to make a decision on whether he will be their next permanent manager, with GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs confirming that the club do plan to speak to other candidates even if the 44-year-old is a frontrunner for the job.
Secondly, United will want to end the season with momentum to go into next season, where they will be fighting on more fronts than just the Premier League following their return to Europe’s elite club competition.
Central midfield is the priority position, with one journalist suggesting progress has already been made over one transfer.
Ederson ‘Says Yes’ to Man United Move
Manchester United could look to bring in up to three new central midfielders this summer, with one report claiming that they have set aside £150m to bring in a player worth £80m, one around the £40m price point and then a squad player worth around £20m.
Atalanta midfielder Ederson would fit perfectly into the middle category, with Fabrizio Romano confirming he is available for €45m this summer.
While Romano says that United are in ‘active’ talks with the Brazilian’s agents over a potential summer move, fellow journalist Mateo Moretto has gone one step further and says he believes that the 26-year-old has already ‘said yes’ to a move to Old Trafford.
Speaking on the Romano in Italian YouTube channel, he said: ‘There’s still no official negotiation between the clubs, but Ederson has already said yes to United.
“Ederson wasn’t initially among the top summer targets for United, but over time he has climbed the ranks and I can tell you, as of today, United is the most likely destination for Ederson.”
Ederson is a Huge Baleba Upgrade
Baleba is another player who has already agreed personal terms dating back to last summer to join United, meaning the Red Devils would only need to negotiate a fee with Brighton if they decided to step up their interest in the Cameroon international again.
The problem with Baleba is that after a stunning 2024-25 campaign for the Seagulls, he has been underwhelming this term, and United must decide whether that is worrying or whether they trust in their scouting of him.
The other issue is that Baleba is more likely to cost in the £70m+ range according to Jacobs, after speaking to sources at Brighton, whereas Ederson is available for £40m.
The Brazilian has been described as ‘world-class’ by his former manager Gian Piero Gasperini, and his experience in the Champions League gives him a big advantage over Baleba ahead of next season.