Liverpool get stunning green light to sign midfield enforcer with better metrics than Zubimendi in massive 2025 deal

Liverpool manager Arne Slot and, inset, Atalanta midfielder Ederson

Atalanta midfielder Ederson has reportedly given the go-ahead for a 2025 transfer to the Premier League, giving chief suitors Liverpool a huge lift and with the cost of a move coming to light – while Arne Slot is seemingly ready to show a star he does not trust the exit door.

The Merseysiders have made an excellent start to the season, winning eight of their opening nine games in all competitions, to leave them top of the Premier League and 100% in their Champions League outings so far. While early days, the initial signs do look very good and the Dutchman appears to have made a mockery of fears that Liverpool could suffer a dip in form following the departure of charismatic former manager Jurgen

Their start to life under their new manager is all the more remarkable considering the Reds only made one concrete addition to their squad over the summer in Italy winger Federico Chiesa. Another signing in Giorgi Mamardashvili is not slotted to arrive until next summer at the earliest.

One addition that did slip the net, though, was Martin Zubimendi in midfield. The Real Sociedad star had agreed terms over a move but pulled the plug at the last minute after opting to stay with his hometown club.

The Reds chose not to pursue an alternative at the time, opting instead to take their time, analyse the market and consider who might be best regarded as a worthy Plan B. Now, though, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have been granted the green light to sign their top new target in Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

The Brazilian star has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, but with Atalanta having allowed Teun Koopmeiners to depart, all offers for the Brazilian were blocked.

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But writing for TBR, Bailey claims that Ederson has decided he wants to leave Atalanta in 2025 and has made clear to his representatives that a move to the Premier League is his preferred option – which in turn will entice the Reds into making a firm move.

Liverpool scouts tracking Ederson as star makes feelings clear

With the Merseysiders having scouts in attendance on Wednesday evening as Atalanta impressively swatted aside Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen, it’s reported the impressive display put in by the two-times capped Brazil midfielder has now convinced them to make a move.

However, they were not the only side keeping a close watch on him in their Champions League outing, with scouts from Manchester City, Tottenham and Newcastle United also in attendance.

Any deal for the 25-year-old would also not come cheap. The Serie A side value the star in the £50.5m (€60m, $66.3m) bracket and the cost of a move in the winter window could cost even more given clubs’ unwillingness to discuss high-profile sales midway through the season