Manchester United's summer recruitment drive is threatening to unravel still further after their £35m move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson ran into significant trouble, with sources telling BBC Sport the deal is off — though clubs on both sides of the negotiation are pushing back on that characterisation.

How the deal reached this point

United agreed a fee with Atalanta on 2 June and the intention was straightforward: the 27-year-old Brazil international would complete a medical in early July, giving the club time to bed him in before pre-season training began. That timetable was immediately disrupted when Ederson received a late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad, pushing any medical back until Brazil's involvement in the tournament ended.

Norway provided that elimination, yet rather than the medical being scheduled shortly afterwards, the situation has drifted into uncertainty. Sources indicate that preliminary medical tests have flagged an issue, with one source being unambiguous to BBC Sport that the transfer is finished. However, representatives at both United and Atalanta are denying that version of events, insisting no final decision has been reached. Ederson is reported to remain in the United States.

A summer of missed targets

If the Ederson move does collapse, it represents the third high-profile midfield pursuit to end in disappointment for Old Trafford this window. United identified Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest as their first choice before his asking price climbed to £116m — a figure the club would not meet. Attention then turned to West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, only for Tottenham to enter the picture. United matched the reported £85m asking price but structured their bid with add-ons; Fernandes chose Spurs regardless.

Ederson had at least appeared to represent confirmed business when those other deals fell apart. Now that certainty has evaporated too, leaving supporters in a genuinely uncomfortable position as the club prepare to return to the Champions League after a two-year absence — a competition that demands squad depth in the engine room.

The wider picture at Old Trafford

United have moved on other fronts this week. An agreement for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos is understood to be close, and former Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow is also on his way to the club, with both deals reached within the last 48 hours. Those additions carry their own value, but neither is the kind of senior, proven midfielder the club's return to European football demands.

The noises out of Old Trafford this summer have consistently pointed to midfield reinforcement as the priority following a third-place finish last season. Three near-misses in that specific area — including one that appeared to be a done deal — will concern the fanbase heading into what promises to be a demanding campaign. The market remains open, and United will need to act decisively if the Ederson transfer does indeed fall through.

For now, the club and Atalanta are holding the line that discussions are ongoing. But the silence around a medical that should have been completed weeks ago speaks for itself.

Frequently asked

Why is the Man Utd Ederson deal in doubt?
Sources have told BBC Sport that medical tests flagged an issue with Ederson after his World Cup involvement with Brazil. Both United and Atalanta deny the deal is dead, but no medical has been completed and there has been no update on the transfer.
How much did Man Utd agree to pay for Ederson?
Manchester United and Atalanta reached an agreement worth £35m on 2 June, with a medical originally planned for early July before the World Cup disrupted that timetable.
Who else did Man Utd try to sign in midfield this summer?
United's primary midfield target was Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, but the fee reached £116m. They also pursued West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, who ultimately chose Tottenham at a reported £85m, before turning their attention to Ederson.