It will be a neat coincidence if it turns out Manchester United's first signing since Michael Carrick was confirmed as their new permanent head coach turns out to be a central midfielder.
There are few clues coming out of Old Trafford about the club's efforts to sign Ederson from Atalanta, but it is anticipated the Brazilian's £35m transfer will be completed pretty soon.
That will take United's spending on central midfield players alone to almost £580m since Carrick himself joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, with the likelihood of more to follow.
United have made strengthening their midfield a priority this summer.
Brazil international Casemiro, 34, has left the club as his contract is due to expire on 30 June.
Manuel Ugarte, a £42.5m signing from Paris St-Germain in August 2024, was an unused substitute in the final-day win at Brighton and has not played a minute since starting the disappointing home defeat by Leeds on 13 April. There are major doubts over whether the Uruguay international will still be at the club next season.
Kobbie Mainoo is the only other experienced central midfielder in Carrick's squad. Nineteen-year-old twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher made their debuts this season, while 18-year-old Jacob Devaney excelled on loan at Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren over the second half of the season.
All three academy graduates are well regarded and likely to be involved in the start of United's pre-season campaign, which begins against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July. Conversations on their short-term futures will take place later in the summer, but realistically none of them are likely to be given a regular starting spot in the Premier League and Champions League next term.
That means United must look to the transfer market to bolster Carrick's squad.
England's Elliot Anderson is regarded their first choice, however, his most likely destination is Manchester City.
United know the 23-year-old's salary demands will be significant and they are reluctant to overpay. They are also unwilling to get involved in a bidding war and have already indicated an unwillingness to pay a fee in the region of £120m it has been rumoured Forest would want.
United have been linked with plenty of alternatives.
Portugal international Mateus Fernandes is regarded one of West Ham's most saleable assets. It is inevitable they will have to sell players this summer following their relegation to the Championship, which also weakens their negotiating position.
United made soundings around Brighton's Carlos Baleba last summer, but backed off when a fee in excess of £100m was mentioned. The 22-year-old's form dipped in the season just ended, which could see the fee drop, although Brighton owner Tony Bloom is noted for his hardline negotiating tactics.
The time it took Liverpool to wear down Newcastle over striker Alexander Isak's deal last summer is fresh in the mind. United don't want to get involved in a saga like that, which is why speculation around Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes has been muted.
Bournemouth pair Alex Scott and Tyler Adams have also been mentioned. England's Scott in particular enjoyed a superb season under Andoni Iraola and may be looking to join a bigger club after missing out on World Cup selection.
The futures of Real Madrid pair Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde is unclear following their training ground spat. The impending return of Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu adds another layer of uncertainty to that dynamic. It is likely United would act if they were given any encouragement around Frenchman Tchouameni in particular.
Man Utd closing in on £38m Ederson deal
Who have Man Utd tried in the past?
Even if Ederson is signed in the next few days, it may be a while before United's midfield make-up for the 2026-27 campaign becomes clear.
Whoever they sign, they will hope their recruitment is more successful than virtually all the players they have tried in Carrick's favoured position since he joined from Tottenham for £18.6m in July 2006.
Manuel Ugarte (£42.3m, from PSG, August 2024. 69 appearances, two goals)
Mason Mount (£55m, from Chelsea, June 2023. 72 appearances, seven goals)
Sofyan Amrabat (loan, from Fiorentina, September 2023. 30 appearances, no goals)
Casemiro (£70m, from Real Madrid, August 2022. 160 appearances, 26 goals)
Christian Eriksen (Free, July 2022. 107 appearances, eight goals)
Marcel Sabitzer (Loan, from Bayern Munich, January 2023. 18 appearances, three goals)
Donny van de Beek (£35m, from Ajax, September 2020. 62 appearances, two goals)
Fred (£47m, from Shakhtar Donetsk, June 2018. 212 appearances, 14 goals)
Nemanja Matic (£40m, from Chelsea, July 2017. 189 appearances, four goals)
Paul Pogba (£89m, from Juventus, August 2016. 224 appearances, 39 goals)
Henrik Mkhitaryan (£27m, from Borussia Dortmund, July 2016. 63 appearances, 13 goals)
Morgan Schneiderlin (£22m, from Southampton, July 2015. 47 appearances, one goal)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (£14.4m, from Bayern Munich, July 2015. 35 appearances, two goals)
Ander Herrera (£29m, from Athletic Bilbao, June 2014. 189 appearances, 20 goals)
Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m, from Everton, 177 games, 22 goals)
Paul Scholes (Free, January 2012. 42 appearances, five goals)
Anderson (£26m from Porto, July 2007. 179 appearances, nine goals)
Owen Hargreaves (£17m, from Bayern Munich, July 2007. 39 appearances, two goals)
18 signings = £541.2m
Tom Cleverley (Debut, August 2011. 79 appearances, five goals)
Paul Pogba (Debut, September 2011. Seven appearances, no goals)
Scott McTominay (Debut, May 2017. 255 appearances, 29 goals)
James Garner (Debut, February 2019. Seven appearances, no goals)
Kobbie Mainoo (Debut, January 2023. 102 appearances, eight goals)
Toby Collyer (Debut, August 2024. 13 appearances, no goals)
Jack Fletcher (Debut, December 2025. Three appearances, no goals)
Tyler Fletcher (Debut, February 2026. Two appearances, no goals)
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