Atalanta midfielder Ederson has agreed personal terms with Manchester United ahead of a proposed move to Old Trafford.
Talks have progressed rapidly over the last week with a fee in the region of £38million close to being agreed with the Serie A side.
The 26-year-old has paused talks with other interested clubs with his focus on joining United, Fabrizio Romano reports.
United have made rebuilding their midfield an urgent priority this summer and are in the market for at least two new players in that position – three if Manuel Ugarte joins Casemiro in leaving the club this summer.
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A full agreement for Ederson could be in place by the end of the week.
United are however continuing to assess other options.
Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni are thought to be their top targets. Anderson however favours a switch to Manchester City with Real not interested in selling Tchouameni any time soon.
Carlos Baleba remains highly-thought of at Old Trafford with a move initially explored last summer. Despite an underwhelming season at Brighton, the Cameroon international remains an option.
United are also interested in signing Mateus Fernandes, whose West Ham United exit now appears more likely after the Hammers were relegated to the Premier League.
The former Southampton star has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain but latest reports suggest he would favour United, where he would link up with countryman Bruno Fernandes.
Should United pull the trigger, Ederson will become the first signing of the Michael Carrick era with the former midfielder signing a two-year deal last week.
Atalanta finished their Serie A campaign with a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Friday night with Ederson left an unused substitute.
Quizzed on his absence post-match, head coach Raffaele Palladino revealed the midfielder is deep in talks over a move to leave the club.
‘Ederson is out because a major club is following him,’ he told reporters. ‘It was a decision we agreed with the boy because there is something there at the transfer market level.
‘The fact that such a player is being followed by such a big club must be a source of pride.’