The latest transfer talk as Manchester United move closer to signing a reported Newcastle United target.

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on the signing of a Serie A midfielder previously linked with a big money move to Newcastle United.

The Red Devils are preparing for what appears likely to be a transformative summer transfer window after interim manager Michael Carrick was rewarded for the impressive upturn in fortunes he oversaw by being named as permanent boss of the 13-time Premier League champions. The former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder guided his old club to a third place finish in the table and that was enough to secure a return to the Champions League.

However, Carrick is also said to be keen to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from predecessor Ruben Amorim and Atalanta midfielder Ederson is believed to be high on his wanted list. The Brazilian star has been linked with a move to Newcastle on several occasions in recent seasons and Magpies recruitment staff are believed to have taken personal checks on the 26-year-old as he forged an impressive reputation in Serie A.

However, it is the Red Devils that appear to be his next destination after BBC Sport reported a deal is now close to completion. An initial fee of £35million has been reported and a further £3million could follow in add-ons as the Old Trafford club take advantage of the fact Ederson has now entered the final 12 months of his current deal with Atalanta. Talk of an agreement have been played down but talks over the deal are now said to have reached an ‘advanced stage’ as Carrick looks to land his first deal of the summer. The Red Devils have also been linked with current Newcastle star Sandro Tonali and former Magpies midfielder Elliot Anderson - although there have been reports stating the latter would prefer to join Manchester City.

Speaking about reported interest in the England star, Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira said recently: "I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players. If not, if you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger. We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned; what I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market."

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