Manchester United’s attempt to sign Ederson from Serie A side Atalanta is in doubt.
On 2 June, United agreed a fee of £35 million for the Brazilian midfielder.
It was planned that Ederson would undergo a medical examination in early July so that the transfer could be completed before the start of pre-season training.
However, this plan had to be abandoned when the 27-year-old was called up late to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
Ederson was expected to undergo a medical after Brazil were eliminated and United sources privately confirmed this when reports of the transfer’s cancellation first emerged over the weekend.
Brazil were subsequently eliminated by Norway, but with Chelsea’s Andrei Santos and former Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow closing in on their moves at United, even with relevant agreements reached in the last 48 hours, there has been no update on Ederson.
Sources said medical tests showed there was a problem and one told BBC Sport the deal had been scrapped.
However, sources at both clubs deny this and say no decision has been made regarding the transfer. Ederson is believed to remain in the United States.
If the transfer does fall through, it will be the latest setback in a difficult summer for the Old Trafford side.
After finishing third last season, United’s priority has been to strengthen their midfield ahead of a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
However, their hopes of signing first choice Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest were dashed when the England international’s transfer fee rose to £116 million, a figure United were unwilling to match.
They then targeted Mateus Fernandes. However, a change in management at West Ham meant there was less pressure to make a quick sale, and when Tottenham announced their interest in the Portugal international, it soon became apparent to United that the final price – £85 million – was far from the expected fee. United offered the same amount, but it included additional payments, and Fernandes chose Tottenham.
In theory, Ederson had at least already been signed, meaning some recruitment had been brought in before deals involving Santos and Darlow were agreed this week.
Fans are now in limbo as they wait to see if a deal for Ederson will go through.