Manchester United have wasted absolutely no time under Michael Carrick, agreeing a £35m fee with Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson. The 26-year-old looks set to become Carrick's first signing as United manager, and honestly, it's the kind of business that makes you sit up and pay attention.
Ederson has been one of the most impressive midfielders in Serie A over the past couple of seasons, offering that blend of energy, physicality and technical quality that Atalanta sides are almost famous for producing. Gian Pamperto Gasperini has a habit of turning players into genuinely complete footballers, and Ederson is very much a product of that system. He wins the ball, he moves it quickly, and he covers ground like a man who genuinely enjoys running, which in itself puts him ahead of a few United midfielders fans could mention.
At £35m he represents decent value in today's market, particularly for a player in his mid-twenties with plenty of room to grow further at the highest level. United's midfield has needed personality and presence for a while now, and if Ederson brings even half of what he has shown in Italy, supporters will be happy with the deal.
From Carrick's perspective, getting this done quickly sends a message. New managers often spend their first few weeks just finding the light switches, but Carrick has gone straight to the transfer market and identified a player who fits a clear profile. That suggests there is a plan in place, which is more than United fans have been able to say with confidence for quite some time.
Atalanta will be disappointed to lose him, no question about that. He has been a real engine for them and replacing that kind of output is never straightforward. But from a United point of view this feels like smart, focused business rather than panic buying or chasing a big name for the sake of it.
If Carrick can build on this early momentum, things at Old Trafford could get interesting rather quickly. Let me know your thoughts.