- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Ederson is being offered the chance to leave Premier League champions Manchester City and become the best-paid goalkeeper in the world with clubs in Saudi Arabia willing to pay ‘well in excess’ of £500,000-a-week.
HITC reported back in February that Pep Guardiola‘s side were keen to open talks with their long-serving shot-stopper, in the hope that Ederson Moraes would put pen to paper on a new contract by the start of August.
Now, with that soft deadline just six weeks away, the chances of that happening look increasingly slim.
HITC now understands that discussions have stalled. Ederson appears ready to consider his options – with Saudi Arabia emerging as a very genuine one – and his stance has left the Manchester City bosses shocked.
Ederson could leave Manchester City for Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Pro League have already lured Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez away from the Etihad Stadium. A number of as-yet unnamed clubs, meanwhile, are now calling Ederson too, in the hope that the Brazil international would be convinced by the prospect of an eye-watering deal ‘well in excess’ of £500,000-a-week.
That £24 million-a-year-plus contract would see Ederson become the best-paid goalkeeper on the planet, overtaking Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich.
Talks, meanwhile, have been held between those Saudi clubs and his representatives. With only two years left on his current deal, meanwhile, HITC have been informed that Manchester City would be willing to consider a sale should a substantial bid come their way.
City do not tend to keep wantaway players against their will.
The perennial Premier League winners recently handed a new deal to Stefan Ortega amid Middle Eastern interest in him too. Ortega, despite that mix up with Josko Gvardiol in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United, was largely terrific when stepping in for an injured Ederson on occasions last term.
Ortega was particularly impressive during that 2-0 win at Tottenham in the Premier League’s penultimate game, the title potentially heading to Arsenal if not for his outstanding reflexes.
“I am delighted to be staying at Manchester City for longer,” the former Armenia Bielefeld talisman smiles, opening up about his desire to take Ederson’s place betwen the sticks.
Stefan Ortega signs new deal at Etihad
“This is a football club that provides players with everything we need to be our best. Every single day I feel motivated and challenged, and I have improved as a goalkeeper since coming here two years ago.
“My family are really settled here in England, I love everything about it here. Signing this deal means I can now focus 100 per cent on next season and beyond. (My aim is to) try to get the number one spot, this is why I signed for Man City.”
“This is a crucial contract extension for Manchester City,” adds director Txiki Begiristain. “Stefan is the best No 2 goalkeeper we’ve ever had, providing us with quality, stability and experience.
“He is such a talented keeper – our goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor tells me all the time how good Stefan is. He is very skilled and it’s clear that since his arrival here he has contributed significantly to our success.”
HITC also understands that Man City have been scouring the market for young goalkeepers with the future in mind. Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, Roma’s Mile Svilar and Villarreal’s Filip Jorgensen have all been looked at.
Jorgensen, however, signed a new deal until the summer of 2029 last week.
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