Manchester United have ended their interest in Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, 24, as the club’s INEOS leadership pivots toward midfield stability ahead of the summer window. According to reports from OneFootball, United have concluded that the former Manchester City attacker is not a primary objective, despite previous speculation linking the club with a £150 million move. Instead, United are prioritising defensive midfield reinforcements, with Atalanta’s Ederson and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni emerging as key recruitment focal points.
United chase Ederson as Casemiro replacement
Following the anticipated departure of Casemiro, 34, United have identified Atalanta midfielder Ederson, 26, as a viable successor. As reported by Matteo Moretto for CaughtOffside, United have reportedly offered a net salary of €4.5 million per year to the Brazilian, positioning themselves ahead of Atletico Madrid in the race for his signature. Atalanta are understood to be seeking an initial €45 million (£39 million) for the player, who has entered the final year of his contract with no intention of renewing. While Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his daily briefing, noted that Ederson is “one of the options” rather than a solitary priority, the club’s wage offer suggests a serious pursuit of a player who averaged 2.3 tackles per 90 minutes in Serie A last season.
The Tchouameni 'dream' and squad restructuring
While Ederson represents a practical move, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, 24, remains the “dream target” for the INEOS board. Romano has clarified that while United view the French international as an elite profile, Real Madrid currently have no intention of sanctioned a sale. This shift in focus reflects a broader tactical recalibration under Michael Carrick. By moving away from a high-cost pursuit of Palmer—who occupies similar spaces to Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho—United are looking to address a midfield that lacked defensive cohesion last term. With limited squad space following the likely exit of Manuel Ugarte after a single season, the £39 million valuation of Ederson offers a more efficient use of a budget that must also cover potential reinforcements at centre-back and left-back.
United are expected to maintain dialogue with Atalanta over the coming weeks as they look to finalise their midfield shortlist before the European Championship begins.