Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson is in serious doubt after a summer of frustrating recruitment setbacks at Old Trafford.
United had agreed a £35m fee for the Brazil international on 2 June, with plans to complete the deal before pre-season training got underway.
The initial intention was for the 27-year-old to undergo his medical at the start of July, ensuring a smooth and timely conclusion to the transfer.
Those plans were disrupted when Ederson received a late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, forcing United to delay the process indefinitely.
It had been anticipated that the medical would take place once Brazil were eliminated from the tournament, and United sources privately confirmed that expectation when early reports of trouble first emerged last weekend.
Brazil were subsequently knocked out by Norway, but despite other United signings progressing, there has been a notable and concerning silence around Ederson’s situation.
Sources have told BBC Sport that medical tests have revealed an issue, with one source stating the deal is off entirely.
However, sources at both Manchester United and Atalanta deny that conclusion, insisting no final decision has been made and that Ederson is believed to remain in the United States.
The uncertainty surrounding Ederson adds to what has been a deeply frustrating window for the club, who finished third last season and are returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
United had made midfield reinforcement their primary objective heading into the summer, only to see their top targets repeatedly slip away before this latest complication.
Their pursuit of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest collapsed when the England midfielder’s asking price climbed as high as £116m, a figure United were not prepared to meet.
United then turned their attention to Mateus Fernandes, but a leadership change at West Ham reduced the pressure on the club to sell quickly.
When Tottenham entered the race for the Portugal international, the final price settled at £85m, well beyond what United had anticipated paying for the player.
United did submit an offer matching that figure, but it included additional payments, and Fernandes ultimately chose to join Tottenham over a move to Old Trafford.
Chelsea’s Andrey Santos and former Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow have both moved closer to completing their own moves to United, with agreements reached in the past 48 hours.
With those deals progressing, the fate of the Ederson transfer has become the defining question of United’s summer window, leaving supporters anxiously waiting for clarity.
