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Manchester United had strengthened their midfield options this summer by signing three players, though only two successfully completed their medical examinations.

Ederson became the first new arrival for the Red Devils during the transfer window, with the club moving swiftly on the recommendation of Casemiro.

Although the Brazilian is not a conventional defensive midfielder, his work rate and box-to-box capabilities greatly impressed United’s recruitment team, who agreed to pay an initial £35 million to secure him from Atalanta.

However, complications arose soon after, as Ederson was called up to Brazil’s World Cup squad. A hurried medical test conducted in New York did not satisfy the 20-time English league champions, prompting them to summon the player to Manchester for a more detailed medical assessment.

During the second evaluation, United reportedly identified concerns regarding the 27-year-old’s knee, which led to the collapse of the deal after some initial confusion.

INEOS quickly shifted focus and signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea. Sources close to the Brazilian national setup indicated that the former Vasco da Gama midfielder was viewed as Casemiro’s ideal successor, rather than Ederson.

Attention then turned to Youri Tielemans, with speculation suggesting that United might revisit negotiations for the Atalanta midfielder later in the window under revised terms.

However, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has now dismissed those rumours, revealing that the Serie A side have secured the Brazil international on a fresh long-term contract.

“BREAKING: Éderson signs new deal at Atalanta until June 2031. Confirms stories on Man United revisiting deal later this summer were not true; as the deal collapsed exactly one week ago.

“Atalanta show trust in Éderson and open new cycle with him staying,” the Italian journalist posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Previously, the former Salernitana player’s contract was due to expire in 2027, which had sparked speculation of a discounted move earlier in the summer. With this new agreement in place, any Premier League clubs interested in the midfielder will now have to pay a much higher fee.

Manchester United are currently exploring other midfield targets, including Eduardo Camavinga and Carlos Baleba, while more cost-effective options such as Nicolas Raskin and Sander Berge are also being considered.