Manchester United Reportedly Use Ederson Medical as Pretext to Pursue Manu Kone

Italian media are suggesting that Manchester United may have utilized the medical examinations for Ederson as a pretext to withdraw from the €45 million transfer agreement with Atalanta. This development could lead them to redirect their efforts towards securing AS Roma's French international, Manu Kone.

Multiple reports emerged this evening indicating that Manchester United had officially informed Atalanta of their decision to abandon the transfer, which had initially been finalized on June 2. The proposed deal included a fixed fee of €40.5 million, with an additional €4.5 million contingent on performance-related add-ons.

The agreement between the two clubs stipulated a delay in completing the necessary medical tests for Ederson until after his participation with Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. This decision followed an initial preliminary check-up conducted in the United States.

However, as time progressed, Manchester United reportedly began to experience reservations and consequently requested more comprehensive medical assessments. Following 48 hours of these extensive scans, the Premier League club notified Atalanta that they would not proceed with the transfer.

According to Italian media outlets covering the situation, Atalanta remains fully confident that Ederson has no significant fitness concerns. They speculate that it is no mere coincidence that Manchester United's change of mind coincided with growing interest in Roma midfielder Manu Kone.

Both players occupy very similar positions on the field. Acquiring both would represent an investment of approximately €100 million, a sum considered excessive even for the Manchester club. If Manchester United has indeed pulled out of the Ederson deal, it is now considered far more probable that they will submit a formal offer for Roma's Manu Kone.

Kone's profile and market value have reportedly surged following his impressive performances for France at the 2026 World Cup, where he effectively displaced Aurelien Tchouameni from the starting lineup.