The Ederson transfer saga has taken a fresh twist as Manchester United sources have reportedly responded to claims that the deal is off.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday evening that United had pulled the plug on a £38m package deal for Ederson. That decision came after the Brazilian underwent medical tests, and there are suggestions in Italy that the club were concerned about his fitness.

Atalanta were said to believe the 27-year-old was “fully fit” and prepared to welcome him back into their squad. The situation has left fans puzzled, as reports that the transfer has collapsed are now being refuted.

Man Utd Sources Deny Ederson Deal Off

Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston has reported on his X account that United sources “strongly deny” that the deal is off. The club feel that reports about the transfer collapsing are to put pressure on them to complete it.

United and Atalanta agreed on a deal for Ederson back in May before the player earned a last-minute call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad. He’s believed to have undergone a medical test in the USA, which led to talk of possible complications.

Ederson has already agreed on personal terms with the Reds on a contract set to run until 2031. If he were to join the club he’d be making around £4.2m (€5m per year).

Reports from Italy suggest United decided against completing the deal due to concerns about an underlying knee issue. That’s despite the player only suffering three significant injuries during his time at Atalanta, including a meniscus injury in 2025.

Man Utd Need to Make a Decision

via Reuters

United might well feel the Italian media are trying to force them to get the deal over the line. They have taken their time completing the transfer, but there is clearly a holdup for a reason.

Ederson is waiting to make a dream move to Old Trafford, but a lack of clarity has left everybody outside of the club puzzled. Several midfield alternatives have been linked, including AS Roma’s Manu Kone.

The decision to spend £50m on Andrey Santos raised questions about the progress of Ederson’s switch. Many assume that the Brazilian is arriving at the club from Chelsea, rather than his compatriot.

A US weather expert has issued a statement ahead of England’s quarter-final against Norway, with the chances of a kick-off delay emerging ahead of Saturday night’s World Cup clash. The Three Lions have become all too familiar with heat, humidity and thunderstorms disrupting their preparations at this summer’s tournament.

On Monday morning, their highly anticipated Round of 16 clash with Mexico was delayed by an hour due to storms in Mexico City, after they had already been forced to deal with the challenges of playing at altitude inside the iconic Azteca Stadium. Against all odds, they swept their previously unbeaten opponents aside in a memorable 3-2 victory, becoming only the third nation to defeat El Tri on home soil in 90 matches.

Now, there are once again murmurs of a potential delay – this time in Florida. But even if there is no suspension to proceedings at Hard Rock Stadium, locals have warned that conditions could make for a challenging evening for both teams, with a little-known “Swamp Ass” warning adding another unusual twist to England’s weather woes.

Weather Expert Issues Little-Known ‘Swamp Ass’ Warning

Credit: Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Temperatures in Miami are expected to hit 34C around the scheduled 5pm local kick-off time, with thunderstorms also forecasted. But alarmingly, due to the high humidity, the heat is set to feel close to the mid-40s when the match kicks off. And now a weatherman from Florida has issued a stark warning for those travelling to the Sunshine State. Meteorologist Matt Devitt wrote on X (see below):

Florida’s swampy landscape is the result of its unique geography, flat topography, high water table and subtropical climate. ‘Swamp Ass’ is a local phenomenon directly tied to the relationship between air temperature and relative humidity.

In high humidity, the air is already saturated with water vapor, meaning your body’s sweat cannot easily evaporate to cool you down. This trapped perspiration creates a muggy, humid microclimate in the back of your pants, mimicking the sticky conditions of a tropical swamp, according to the Thigh Society.

Chances of England vs Norway Being Delayed Revealed

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Postponement or cancellation of matches becomes an option open to organisers at the temperature expected in Florida this weekend, although it’s not mandatory.

The BBC’s weather predictor is also forecasting thunderstorms shortly before kick-off and during the match, which means the Three Lions currently face even greater chances of a delayed kickoff than they did in their last fixture.

US Sports rules state that lightning within eight miles of the stadium will lead to suspensions in order to protect players and fans. Emergency warnings are in place and play will be delayed by half an hour every time there is a fresh strike within the perimeter.

Officials record WBGT (Wet-bulb globe temperature) readings 90 minutes before kick-off and again one hour before the match at venues considered especially hot or humid.