Manchester United’s summer transfer window has taken a dramatic turn after their pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson hit a major stumbling block following a failed medical.
The 27-year-old had appeared destined for Old Trafford, with reports suggesting a full agreement had been reached between the player and both clubs, with a £40m deal mooted for his signature.
However, after his latest medical in Manchester, the Red Devils have decided to walk away from proceedings, leaving the deal in serious jeopardy of falling apart entirely.
Atalanta have responded by insisting that Ederson is 100% fit and does not have any current injury issues that should have derailed a potential transfer to Old Trafford.
Issues may have stemmed from a meniscus injury Ederson suffered back in 2025, though the full reason behind United’s decision to step back remains unclear at this stage.
Multiple sources have suggested that Michael Carrick’s side have not yet officially pulled out of a deal, meaning the next few days will prove crucial to determining the midfielder’s future.
United’s need for a central midfielder has been pressing since Casemiro’s departure at the end of June, leaving a significant void at the heart of their midfield heading into next season.
Ederson is not the only name on the recruitment team’s radar, with Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi also emerging as a serious target for the club this summer window.
Journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on talkSPORT’s YouTube channel, confirmed growing interest from multiple clubs: “Manchester City are seriously considering a move, Manchester United are there as well, having made an inquiry.”
Jacobs added: “I’m also told Bayern are among the interested parties; Chelsea also appreciate the player. We will get more movement on his future now Morocco’s exit is confirmed.”
Bouaddi, who has been dubbed “exceptional” by analyst Ben Mattinson, produced impressive numbers across the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season, making 2.4 tackles per 90 and winning 57% of his ground duels across 30 appearances.
His dribble success rate of 61% places him in the top 15% of all midfielders across Europe’s top-five leagues, underlining his quality both in and out of possession.
In possession, the teenager also outperformed Ederson, completing a higher proportion of his attempted dribbles and creating 1.1 chances per 90 with an 85% pass accuracy rate.
Those statistics suggest Bouaddi could be the ideal deep-lying orchestrator that Carrick’s United so desperately need to fill the void left by Casemiro’s exit.
Carrick himself has been handed significant funds for the current transfer window following his impressive caretaker spell, which saw United suffer just two losses in 17 Premier League outings before securing a third-place finish.
That top-three finish earned the 44-year-old the manager’s job on a permanent basis, and next season will see him judged far more heavily by both the hierarchy and the supporters at Old Trafford.
While missing out on Ederson would represent a bitter blow for INEOS and United given the lengthy pursuit, landing Bouaddi at £60m could prove a far smarter long-term investment for the club.
Spending that sum on an 18-year-old carries obvious risk, but securing one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders could set United up for many years to come in the Premier League.