Barcelona will reportedly look to sign 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder Ederson, valued at €45 million by Atalanta, next year.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Ederson is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions are scouring the market for a holding midfielder ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window. The Brazilian midfielder has thus emerged as a target, with Atalanta demanding a package worth €45 million to part ways with him.
Ederson has gone from strength to strength since arriving in Europe nearly two years ago. A graduate of the Desportivo Brasil youth division, the 24-year-old represented Cruzeiro, Corinthians, and Fortaleza in his homeland before moving to Italy by joining Salernitana in January 2022.
But the Brazilian midfielder has seen his stock soar since joining Atalanta in July 2022. He enjoyed a solid debut season but has come into his own this term, managing five goals and one assist in 16 appearances thus far. Meanwhile, Ederson’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs.
Recent reports have linked the Atalanta midfielder with Newcastle United. The Magpies are reportedly ready to fork out a sizable sum to secure Ederson’s services next year. But Barcelona’s entry into the picture has changed the equation.
The reigning La Liga champions will dip their toes in the market in the 2024 summer transfer window despite signing two midfielders this past summer. But Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan are on the wrong side of 30 and will only be short-term solutions for Barcelona. In addition, Romeu has not set the stage alight thus far this term.
So, Barcelona’s decision to delve into the market for a midfielder next summer is not surprising. Several candidates, including Mats Wieffer, have emerged on Barcelona’s radar. But Ederson is also a viable target, with Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimaraes also featuring on their wishlist.
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The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder is the cheapest of the three options, with Atalanta demanding a package of €45 million to part ways with him. The base fee can be as low as €35 million, with the remaining €10 million being add-ons. So, it will be interesting to see if Barcelona can raise the money to secure Ederson’s services next year.
