Manchester United have pulled the plug on Ederson’s £39million move to Old Trafford from Atalanta as they pursue Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans as a replacement.
The Ederson deal has been in doubt for more than a week since it emerged that the 27-year-old midfielder’s initial medical in the US had revealed a knee problem.
United confirmed on Monday that they will not be proceeding with a transfer worth £35m plus £3.8m in add-ons, although they have not ruled reviving their interest in Ederson later this summer depending on what happens in the rest of the transfer window.
However, the club already seem to have moved on and are in advanced talks over triggering Tielemans’ £35m release clause at Villa following his return from the World Cup with Belgium.
United insiders insist that it was the club’s intention to complete the Ederson transfer in early July after the structure of the deal and personal terms were agree with Atalanta and the player.
However, Ederson received a late call-up for Brazil’s World Cup squad from coach Carlo Ancelotti after Roma defender Wesley was injured, forcing United to conduct the first part of the medical in the US.
After the knee problem emerged and a full medical was scheduled for last week with the input of specialists, United decided not to go through with the deal on the agreed terms.
Sources, who have expressed sympathy for the player and his family, have categorically denied that United called it off before the full medical. However, there was enough uncertainty for United to start making progress on other potential targets.
United agreed a £50m deal with Chelsea for Andrey Santos last week, and are now set to sign Tielemans as well. While they insist that Santos was not signed as a replacement for Ederson, Tielemans is seen as a similar player to fill his midfield role.
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