Atalanta Wiretap

Manchester United have agreed a £35 million ($47 million) deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson, with the 26-year-old set to sign a four-year contract at Old Trafford with an option to extend by a further 12 months.

The transfer remains subject to a medical, with completion expected in early July ahead of United's pre-season return. An additional £3.9 million in performance-related payments is also included in the agreement.

Ederson becomes the club's first signing since Michael Carrick was appointed permanent head coach last month and is the first of what could be up to three central midfield additions this summer. United have prioritized the position following the impending departure of compatriot Casemiro, 34, whose contract expires at the end of the month.

The Brazilian has proved adaptable across multiple midfield roles during his time at Atalanta, scoring 16 goals in 180 appearances across all competitions for the Serie A club. He holds three senior international caps and was included in Brazil's expanded 55-man World Cup squad before missing Carlo Ancelotti's final selection.

United are also pursuing West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, though the relegated London club are seeking a substantial profit on the Portugal midfielder who cost them in excess of £40 million when he arrived from Southampton last summer. Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson is another target, though the England midfielder is said to prefer a move to Manchester City.

Beyond midfield, United are exploring a left-sided addition, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall among those on their radar, as well as striking support for Benjamin Sesko. The club's goalkeeping situation also remains unresolved. Former first choice Andre Onana has been told he can seek a new club, while 22-year-old Czech keeper Radek Vitek, who earned all player of the year honors during a loan spell at Bristol City, has indicated he wants regular playing time rather than a backup role.

The recruitment drive is being shaped by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with former Mercedes Formula One executive Michael Sansoni playing a prominent role in target identification alongside director of football Jason Wilcox.

Manchester United are in advanced negotiations to sign Atalanta's Brazil midfielder Ederson in what would be their first summer transfer, with multiple sources telling BBC Sport a deal is close to completion at an initial fee of £35 million plus £3 million in add-ons ($47 million).

Senior United officials have played down the speculation and say no agreement is in place for the 26-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract. Atletico Madrid had also registered interest but moved instead for Wolverhampton's Joao Gomes.

United are prioritizing central midfield additions this summer following Casemiro's departure and uncertainty surrounding Manuel Ugarte's future. The club ideally seeks two or three reinforcements in that area, though primary target Elliot Anderson appears set to join Manchester City.

Ederson carries three senior Brazil caps but did not make Carlo Ancelotti's final 26-man World Cup squad despite appearing on the initial 55-man list. He has spent four and a half seasons in Serie A, the last three with Atalanta, where he has been a key contributor to a side that consistently outperforms expectations.

The Champions League last 16 draw has produced a series of heavyweight matchups for English clubs, headlined by Manchester City's fifth knockout meeting in five years with Real Madrid, Chelsea's rematch with Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle's clash with Barcelona.

Chelsea's tie with PSG reprises last summer's Club World Cup final in New Jersey, which Chelsea won 3-0 with two goals from Cole Palmer under then-manager Enzo Maresca. New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, who went 1-1-1 against PSG during his time at Strasbourg, welcomed the draw.

"These are the games you live for, games that you come into football for," Rosenior said. "It's going to be a great tie."

Liverpool face a difficult return to Istanbul for a rematch with Galatasaray, having lost 1-0 there in a September league-phase meeting. Arsenal drew Bayer Leverkusen in what is considered a more favorable pairing among the English clubs involved.

"We're really excited," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "Let's try to be there until the last stage of every competition."

Tottenham, currently battling Premier League survival concerns, will face Atletico Madrid in a tie that brings a quick reunion for midfielder Conor Gallagher, who joined Spurs from the Spanish club in January.

Newcastle's meeting with Barcelona carries historical weight, evoking memories of Sir Bobby Robson, who managed both clubs, and Faustino Asprilla's famous hat trick in a 3-2 home win over the Catalan side in 1997. Barcelona won the clubs' most recent encounter, a September league-phase match at St. James' Park, 2-1 with two goals from Marcus Rashford.

The draw also set a potential path toward a Liverpool-Chelsea quarterfinal and a north London semifinal between Arsenal and Tottenham should both advance.

Champions League Round of 16 Ties:

• 1. Arsenal vs. 16. Leverkusen
• 2. Bayern vs. 15. Atalanta
• 3. Liverpool vs. 20. Galatasaray
• 4. Tottenham vs. 14. Atletico
• 5. Barcelona vs. 12. Newcastle
• 6. Chelsea vs. 11. PSG
• 7. Sporting CP vs. 23. Bodo/Glimt
• 8. Man City vs. 9. Real Madrid

Manchester United have agreed to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for $82 million.

Hojlund emerged as the top center-forward target after they back away from Harry Kane.

Hojlund is yet to play 100 senior games in his career and last season scored nine times in 32 appearances in Serie A. 

Inter are reportedly interested in signing Atalanta striker Luis Muriel over the summer.

The 29-year-old striker has scored 16 goals this season.

Muriel's rate of scoring a goal every 53.5 minutes is only bettered by Robert Lewandowski.

Muriel is said to be on the top of Antonio Conte's transfer list for the upcoming window. 

Sergio Ramos will miss six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Ramos is likely to miss Real Madrid's matchup against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16.

The 34-year-old defender, whose contract expires in June, has yet to reach an extension agreement with Real Madrid.  

Paris Saint-Germain have advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League with their 2-1 comeback win over Atalanta.

PSG went down 1-0 in the 26th minute, but Marquinhos scored an equalizer in the 90th minute and then Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the match winner.

Kylian Mbappe is doutbful for PSG's Champions League match against Atalanta due to an ankle injury.

Mbappe suffered a sprained ankle in the French Cup final against St. Etienne.

X-rays revealed no ligament damage to Mbappe's ankle.

PSG face Atalanta on August 12th. 

Serie A training is expected to resume on May 4th, with an eye towards matches resuming in late May.

Individual training will start on May 4th, with group training resuming on May 18th. 

Matches could then potentially restart as early as May 27th, with an end date of mid-July if all goes to plan.

Bergamo mayor Giorgio Gori said he believes that the Champions League match between Atalanta and Valencia at the San Siro is partly responsible for the outbreak of COVID-19 in his region.

The match was attended by 44,000 fans.

"The match was a biological bomb," said Gori in a Facebook interview.

"At that time we did not know what was happening. The first patient in Italy was on February 23. If the virus was already circulating, the forty thousand fans who went to San Siro were infected.

"No one knew that the virus was already circulating among us."

A third of Valencia's team also tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after. 

Gori added that there other factors for the spread of the virus in northern Italy.

"The match didn't cause everything because the spark was really at the Alzano Lombardo hospital, as a patient with unrecognised pneumonia infected patients, doctors and nurses."