La Liga giants join race for Newcastle United and Liverpool target ahead of Premier League visit

Newcastle United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are facing further competition in the race to secure the signing of Atalanta star Ederson.

The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been in impressive form for the Serie A club since joining from league rivals Salernitana in a £17m deal ahead of last season.  After making 37 appearances in all competitions during his Gewiss Stadium to help Atalanta secure a place in this season’s Europa League, Ederson has continued to enhance his growing reputation during the current campaign.

The former Corinthians and Cruzeiro star has scored six goals and provided one assist in 36 appearances in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and Europa League and will visit England when his side face Liverpool in the quarter-final of the latter of those competitions next month.  With speculation growing over a possible move away from Atalanta, Ederson has revealed he is enjoying the attention he has received from clubs in recent months.

Speaking to Sky Italia earlier this season, he said: "Being looked for by big clubs like Juventus? This is normal when the transfer market opens, for some situations to come up.

"It happened in Brazil, it happened when I was at Salernitana. For me, it's better this way, it means that I'm doing well and that there are many people watching me. It always happens with the market but the most important thing is to do well at Atalanta and I'm doing very well here.”

Newcastle have reportedly monitored Ederson's progress in recent months with several trips to Italy to watch him in action and although the Premier League seems to be his most likely destination, OnTheMinute have now claimed La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have identified the £25m-rated midfielder as a possible signing as Diego Simeone looks to strengthen his options in the heart of his side.