Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick will already be looking ahead to this summer’s transfer window.
The Englishman took caretaker charge of the Red Devils in January following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, and was appointed permanently last week after an impressive second half of the campaign.
Carrick guided United to a third-placed finish in the Premier League this season, and will therefore have to contend with the Champions League next season, as well as their domestic duties.
With the transfer window now fast approaching, though, it has emerged that the Manchester giants are closing in on their first signing of the summer.
As per BBC Sport, Man United are edging closer to a deal to sign midfielder Ederson from Italian outfit Atalanta.
The Red Devils are on the hunt for a new central midfielder with Casemiro departing the club, and the report claims that Ederson is likely to be the first new arrival of the summer.
Ederson looks set to complete a move to Manchester United (Photo: Marco Canoniero/Alamy)
Ederson, 26, joined Atalanta from Serie A rivals Salernitana in 2022 and has since build a reputation as one of the best in the division in his position.
In total he has featured 180 times for the Bergamo side, including more than 40 appearances during the recent campaign.
His impressive form has attracted the interest of Man United, though, and the report suggests that a deal worth an initial £35 million – plus £3 million in potential add-ons – is close to being agreed.
Ederson’s contract in Bergamo is set to expire in just over 12 months, which may have had some impact on the player’s price tag.
With Casemiro having already played his final match for the Red Devils, there is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Manuel Ugarte at Old Trafford.