Manchester United are expected to confirm the signings of Karl Darlow and Andrey Santos in the coming days, but the Ederson deal is now in doubt as Carrick reportedly eyes a Premier League proven star
Michael Carrick will be hoping he can continue to extract the best from his Manchester United squad as the new Premier League campaign draws near and transfer work accelerates behind the scenes.
Following his success in securing Champions League qualification, now-permanent United manager Carrick is expected to welcome some fresh additions imminently. Karl Darlow is set to arrive shortly as backup goalkeeper, while Andrey Santos’ switch from Chelsea will be finalised in the coming days.
Nevertheless, a deal for Atalanta star Ederson, who was anticipated to join for £35million, has been thrown into doubt, with conflicting reports suggesting the move has collapsed. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest transfer rumours emerging from Old Trafford.
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Michael Carrick’s midfield strategy
With Ederson’s arrival now uncertain rather than inevitable, and Andrey Santos unlikely to completely solve the midfield shortage, Carrick faces a central conundrum as matters stand.
However, The Sun claims he may look to Mason Mount, who returned for pre-season training last week, and try to deploy him in a far more defensive position than he is accustomed to. Mount arrived at Old Trafford in 2023 from Chelsea for an initial £55m but has struggled to justify that fee as an attacking playmaker.
Carrick is now reportedly considering deploying him in a deeper role. The report suggests that Mount’s encouraging displays towards the end of last season mean he remains very much part of the first-team plans and that Carrick appreciates his work ethic and midfield flexibility.
Contact made with £38m star
Should the Ederson deal collapse, United could pivot to Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes. The 25-year-old Brazilian has also been touted for a switch to Liverpool.
Gomes impressed for a struggling Wolves outfit that dropped into the Championship last season and was poised to join Atletico Madrid for £38m. However, this transfer fell apart and Brazilian publication O Globo reports that United have established contact over a possible move.
The report indicates that Gomes’ transfer was virtually completed, but his representative Jorge Mendes focused on securing Bernardo Silva’s switch to Real Madrid. This allegedly frustrated Atletico, who believed their fierce rivals had been given priority, prompting them to abandon the deal.
Gomes was named Wolves’ Player of the Season by supporters and his team-mates last campaign, despite his side’s relegation from the Premier League.