Man Utd Pivot to Kone as Ederson Medical Collapse Derails Transfer

Manchester United's summer recruitment strategy took a dramatic turn on Friday evening when their protracted pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson finally collapsed over medical concerns.

The Red Devils had agreed terms for the Brazilian at the start of June, but doubts began surfacing earlier in the week about whether the deal would actually materialise. Those fears proved well-founded when transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the transfer had fallen through following a failed medical assessment.

Romano outlined the sequence of events on his YouTube channel, explaining that United had requested additional medical examinations beyond the initial checks. After several rounds of testing, the club decided Ederson would need to return for further evaluation. Meanwhile, Atalanta maintained the player was completely fit and ready to play, having recently featured for Brazil at the World Cup.

The Italian club received formal notification of United's withdrawal and indicated they were content to reintegrate Ederson into their squad, with the midfielder holding one year remaining on his contract.

Kone emerges as Plan B

With the Ederson deal in tatters, United have quickly shifted their attention to Roma's Manu Kone, whose performances at the World Cup have caught the eye of the Premier League club. Sport Mediaset reports that the Red Devils are now concentrating their efforts on securing the midfielder, who Roma value at a minimum of €50m.

Italian media outlets suggest Kone represents an ideal fit for English football, with Manchester United prepared to launch a formal bid imminently. However, Roma's asking price may prove prohibitive, with several reports indicating the €50m valuation could be merely a starting point for negotiations.

Arsenal and Newcastle have also registered interest in Kone, though United appear to be leading the chase at present.

Santos deal imminent

The Ederson saga comes as Andrey Santos prepares to become United's first confirmed arrival of the window. The Chelsea midfielder completed his medical on Friday and is expected to finalise his move over the weekend.