Manchester City have received a £25 million bid from the Saudi Pro League for goalkeeper Ederson with Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga another who could be on his way to the Middle East.
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
The Saudi Pro League are looking to lure some of the finest shot-stoppers in the game away from European football this summer.
There is interest, as HITC reported recently, in Liverpool’s Alisson Becker. But while the Anfield giant has shown little desire to push for a move away, the same cannot be said of his fellow Brazil international Ederson Moraes.
HITC understands that Ederson has made it clear to Manchester City that he is ready to move away from the Etihad Stadium while following in the footsteps of Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte.
Ederson’s current deal runs until 2026 and talks over an extension have stalled. It is believed that he would become the highest-paid goalkeeper on the planet if he was to end up in Saudi Arabia, a package worth around £500,000-a-week on the table.
Manchester City’s Ederson could leave for Saudi Arabia
Man City have now received a bid worth £25 million.
And while Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions would ideally look for closer to £30 million, City’s stance is that they will not stand in any player’s way should they wish to depart. The 2023 treble winners allowed both Mahrez and Laporte to join Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr respectively.
A new contract has been awarded to Stefan Ortega too, with City believing he can step up from number two to number one. There is also interest in Roma’s Mile Svilar.
Ederson, meanwhile, would likely link up with Laporte if a deal can be agreed with City. The Pro League’s plan is to install the ex-Benfica glovesman at the Al-Awwal Park.
Ederson would therefore become a team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Telles and Sadio Mane as well as Laporte at an Al-Nassr side who finished second in the table last term.
Saudi rivals Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, could be welcoming Kepa Arrizabalaga into their own ranks. HITC have been told that talks between Al-Ittihad and Chelsea are underway for a goalkeeper who became the most expensive in history when he joined in a £72 million deal from Athletic Bilbao.
Kepa Arrizabalaga likely to leave Chelsea
Kepa has fallen well down Chelsea’s pecking order after a difficult time at Stamford Bridge. The Spain international also spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, though he ended 2023/24 as Los Blancos’ third choice after Andriy Lunin stepped up brilliantly in the absence of an injured Thibaut Courtois.
Interestingly, the futures of Lunin and Kepa may still be intertwined this summer.
HITC has learned that Liverpool had identified Ukrainian shot-stopper Lunin as a potential replacement for Alisson. If Lunin was to depart, Real Madrid may look to tie down Kepa to a permanent contract.
Though with the Saudi Pro League now prioritising Ederson – and with a deal there to be done – Liverpool fans can probably sleep easy for the time being in the knowledge that their star goalkeeper is likely to stay put under Arne Slot.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
