Manchester United are close on one signing, chasing another and still trying to move a third on. Ederson is the nearest to the line, Pierre Kalulu is being assessed as a flexible defensive option and André Onana remains in talks over his future. It is a clear sign that Michael Carrick's summer is already being shaped by multiple deals, not one big move.

Ederson is closest, but the deal is still not done

David Ornstein reported that Manchester United had reached agreement with Atalanta to sign Ederson, with personal terms in place on a 4+1-year deal and a medical still to come. Fabrizio Romano went a little further, calling it a €45m package with add-ons and saying the midfielder would sign a four-year deal plus option. Those are not identical details, but both point in the same direction: United have a deal that is advanced, not finished.

Carrick has been clear that there is work to do. "As a football club, you want to keep moving forward," he said. "There's obviously work to do. It's quite obvious, with certain players leaving, there's a bit of work to do."

That need fits the numbers from last season. United finished third in the Premier League with 68 points, scoring 66 and conceding 50. Carrick's 17-game spell included six clean sheets, but United also conceded at least twice in seven of those 17 games. The rebuild is not just about adding players. It is about tightening areas that were still too easy to expose.

Why Kalulu and Onana show the harder decisions

Kalulu looks like a very different kind of target. Juventus are willing to listen to offers of around €40m, and his ability to play at centre-back, right-back and right wing-back makes him useful in more than one role. He is also not short of competition, with Tottenham interested as well. That is the kind of profile clubs chase when they want flexibility without buying two separate players.

The same process is playing out on the exit side with Onana. Trabzonspor's president said, "We speak with Onana every day. We won't have any financial difficulties." He also added, "We'll make the necessary sacrifices. I don't think we will experience any setbacks. But if we do, we will find another goalkeeper of the same quality."

There is a cost attached to that discussion. United paid Inter Milan an initial £43.8m for Onana, so any permanent move would not be a clean reset. His last five tracked United outings produced ratings of 6.2, 7.3, 6.3, 7.2 and 6.2, which mirrors the uncertainty around his place in the squad. The move has not fully worked, and the club are now deciding whether to keep backing it or cut their losses.

For United, that is the real shape of the summer. One deal near completion, one possible defensive upgrade, and one exit that would close a costly chapter. The next step is whether the Ederson move is formalised and whether the Kalulu and Onana situations move in the same direction before the window settles down.

FAQ

Are Manchester United close to signing Ederson this summer?

United are close on Ederson, but the move is described as an agreement that still needs medical and formal steps. One report puts the fee at €40.5m plus €4.5m in bonuses on a 4+1 deal, while another says a €45m package with add-ons and a four-year deal plus option is in place.

Why are Manchester United interested in Pierre Kalulu?

Kalulu appeals because he can play at centre-back, right-back and right wing-back. Juventus are willing to listen to offers of around €40m, and there is also interest from Tottenham, so United are looking at a defender who can cover several roles rather than just one position.

What is happening with André Onana at Manchester United?

Trabzonspor's president says the club are in daily talks with Onana about a permanent deal. United paid Inter Milan an initial £43.8m for him, so any exit would leave the club taking a hit on that fee if they decide to move him on this summer.

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