Man Utd news: Michael Carrick set to seal £45m first transfer as private manager message emerges

View 2 Images

As the Premier League campaign draws to a close, Manchester United have received a very promising update on the transfer front. Michael Carrick's men conclude their season away to Brighton on Sunday, though they've already secured third in the Premier League table.

The match falls barely 48 hours after it was confirmed Carrick has signed a permanent contract to remain United manager. And the former interim chief would like nothing more than to celebrate with one final win on the south coast ahead of the summer.

Bruno Fernandes also has added motivation to impress at the Amex Stadium as he sits one assist off the Premier League's all-time record. An Old Trafford icon also features in the latest United headlines as Mirror Football breaks down this weekend's biggest news.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Carrick has confirmed his commitment to United and it appears the club are already closing in on its first piece of summer business. That's after a report from SportItalia suggested United are inches away from signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson in a £43million deal.

The Brazilian will be expected to fill the void that's soon to be left by compatriot Casemiro as he closes in on a move to Inter Miami. Ederson has only one year left on his contract in Italy, which is believed to have led to a considerable discount on his price-tag.

United have had several dealings with Atalanta in recent years, starting with the capture of Amad Diallo back in 2021. Two years later, they signed striker Rasmus Hojlund in a deal worth up to £72m, though he's since moved on to Napoli.

According to SportItalia, the Ederson deal is "almost closed" after months of speculation linking the two parties. However, he would represent just the first piece of the puzzle as United embark on another rebuild this summer.

It's understood midfield is a particular priority for United heading into this summer. However, the arrival of Ederson would be a significant coup, with the hope being that his arrival can mimic Casemiro's fierce synergy alongside Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo towards the latter part of the 2025/26 season.

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Ahead of Pep Guardiola's farewell fixture at home to Aston Villa , Sir Alex Ferguson reached out to congratulate the City boss. The Catalan has confirmed his departure from the helm after a decade of success , which started only a few years after Ferguson retired from the sport in 2013.

Ferguson's United met Guardiola's Barcelona in two Champions League finals back in 2009 and 2011. The Premier League titans were soundly bested on both occasions but clearly the two coaches built a healthy respect for one another.

After winning 16 major titles at the Etihad, Guardiola has been touted as a rival to Ferguson's unofficial title as the Premier League's greatest-ever manager. Regardless of where one falls in that argument, however, the Scot paid tribute to his former adversary with a personal message in recent days.

View 2 Images

"I know I had incredible success during my time as the manager and it is nice to be there," said Guardiola ahead of Sunday's clash against Villa. "One of the biggest, biggest compliments I had, I got a message from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday, two days ago, and that made me so happy.

"He is the greatest in this country. The tenure, the time, and for many, many reasons. I’m happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest could [see]…

"I’m pretty sure [to] Sir Alex we are not the 'noisy neighbours' [anymore], we are the 'neighbours'. Just 'the neighbours'. And I’m happy that he has been watching."