Patrice Evra has revealed his dream Manchester United signing as Michael Carrick closes in on a £38m deal for Ederson.
Atalanta’s Brazilian midfielder Ederson is set to become Carrick’s first signing after he was appointed by United on a permanent deal.
Carrick’s return to Old Trafford was only expected to be temporary but he got the job full-time after taking Manchester United back into the Champions League.
The Red Devils will pay Atalanta an initial £35m for Ederson, with a further £3m going to the Serie A club in add-ons.
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Ederson will become the third Atalanta player to move to Manchester United in recent years following Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo.
United targeted Ederson as they look to revamp their midfielder following Casemiro’s departure and uncertainty over Manuel Ugarte’s future.
At least one more midfielder is set to arrive at Old Trafford, with United interested in Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba.
Evra hopes Manchester United continue to bolster Carrick’s midfield options but has named Victor Osimhen as his dream summer signing.
Asked to pick out one player he would love his former club United to sign this summer, Evra told GOAL: ‘Victor Osimhen. I have all due respect for Galatasaray, the love he gets there and what the player is like.
‘Manchester United need a proper striker, and I have so much respect for the strikers at Man United. But, back in the day, we had four amazing strikers, and if you want to play every competition, you need more strikers.
‘Of course, you need some defenders, like an extra left back, because you could have an injury and a right-back. Of course, Casemiro is leaving, so you need to replace those players.
‘But to name one player, I say Osimhen because I know this guy can make a difference.’
Osimhen scored 22 goals for Galatasaray last season to help them win the league and has 59 goals in 74 games since joining the Turkish club from Napoli for £65m.
Chelsea came close to signing the Nigeria striker before his move to Galatasaray and Manchester United and Arsenal have both previously been linked with moves.
Louis Saha recently urged United to revive their interest in Osimhen, who helped Napoli win Serie A before moving to Turkey, calling him a ‘transformational signing’.
‘I really like Victor Osimhen,’ the ex-Old Trafford striker said. ‘He’s definitely got the character, he’s got the quality.
Carrick on Man Utd’s summer transfer window
‘I think the beauty of the next transfer window for everybody, it’s always the biggest thing in the world, and the most important transfer window of all time for every club I think.
‘That’s just the nature of how it’s been created, to be honest. And I think, again, as a football club, you want to keep moving forward. We certainly do as a football club, want to keep moving forward.
‘So, I think it’s acknowledged we’re at this stage and the dynamics and the balance of the direction we’re at, where we’ve ended up getting to and finishing in the league.
‘And there’s obviously work to do. I know it’s quite obvious, there’s certain players leaving, that there’s a bit of work to do. It’s not any more important, this one, than the last one, or it’s what’s ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of.’
‘He’s also got good European pedigree: he was a success in France, he was a champion in Italy with Napoli and he’s gone to Turkey with Galatasaray and been brilliant, a move that he probably didn’t want, let’s be honest.
‘He’s scored goals at every level. He’s got Champions League experience, and further more, he’s got the type of personality and charisma that this United squad could really benefit from.
‘I think he would be a transformational signing for Manchester United.
‘If you think about the pressure that he was under at Napoli, firing the club to its first title in 33 years, then he’s the perfect man to lead the line for United.
‘I think he would have a huge impact at United. I would love to see the club hierarchy move for him, I think he is exactly what we need.’
Manchester United spent £74m on Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko last summer and were pleased with his progress over the course of the season.
Sesko struggled under former manager Ruben Amorim but ended the season well, scoring 11 Premier League goals.
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