Man Utd news: Atalanta star scouted as Michael Carrick ready to strike deal for £36.5m ace

Michael Carrick’s summer rebuild at Manchester United has taken another decisive turn, with the club now shifting focus from midfield reinforcements to defensive reinforcements. Less than a month before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Hull City, the United manager has been personally monitoring Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, a 22-year-old centre-back whose profile matches the club’s pressing need for depth and experience in the backline.

From midfield targets to defensive priorities

Carrick arrived at Old Trafford with a clear mandate to reshape the squad after a truncated 40-game season. He has already completed two high-profile arrivals in midfield—Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea—while also bringing in Karl Darlow as a new first-choice goalkeeper. Yet with Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt enduring persistent injury issues last term, the need for defensive cover has intensified.

Scalvini, capped 14 times by Italy, has been on United’s radar for months. The Telegraph reports that Carrick’s staff have now escalated their assessment of the Atalanta defender, who has made 137 senior appearances for the Serie A side and completed 88% of his passes in 2023–24. His versatility—capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or centre-back—adds tactical flexibility, a trait Carrick values after United’s defensive fragility in transitions last season.

The reported valuation of £32 million (€38 million) sits within United’s transfer budget, but injury history remains a concern. Scalvini has missed 81 matches across the past three seasons, including 14 last term due to four separate fitness issues. Carrick will need assurances over his fitness before committing to a deal that could reach £36.5 million.

Goalkeepers exit stage left as squad overhaul accelerates

United’s goalkeeping department is being comprehensively restructured. Radek Vitek, 22, is nearing a £14 million permanent move to Middlesbrough, with the Championship side securing matching rights and a buy-back option. The Czech goalkeeper, on loan at Bristol City last season, has spent the past four years at Old Trafford but has featured just twice in all competitions.

Altay Bayindir, 28, is also set to leave, with a season-long loan to Celta Vigo agreed. The Turkey international, signed from Fenerbahçe in 2023, has made only 12 appearances for United and will head to La Liga with a view to a permanent €3.5 million deal that includes a sell-on clause. The exits follow André Onana’s loan return to Trabzonspor, completing a full rotation of the club’s goalkeeping ranks.

Carrick has now added Darlow to Senne Lammens in his first-choice options, while the departures free up wages and registration space for further incomings. The club’s transfer activity is intensifying as the window tightens, with United preparing for a Champions League return after finishing third in the Premier League.

Transfer carousel spins faster as deadline looms

The wider Premier League transfer market is accelerating, and United are not the only club adjusting plans. Arsenal are closing in on Bruno Guimarães, with Newcastle United prepared to accept a £75 million fee for their captain. The Gunners’ pursuit of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior remains speculative, but their activity underscores the fluidity of the window.

United, meanwhile, remain in the race for Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, who has rejected a return to Chelsea. The pursuit reflects Carrick’s broader strategy: prioritising positional upgrades where depth is thin, even as established names like Joshua Zirkzee remain in the exit column. The Telegraph also notes that Carrick has cooled on signing a third midfielder, redirecting funds toward defensive reinforcements instead.

With pre-season friendlies against Atlético Madrid and Hull City approaching, Carrick’s squad is in flux. The arrival of Tielemans and Santos has stabilised the engine room, but the defensive reshuffle—scalvini, Vitek, and Bayindir—signals a pragmatic pivot. The next fortnight will determine whether United can finalise a marquee signing before the window slams shut.

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