Manchester City are set for an important summer transfer window but there is one rumoured departure that the club simply cannot allow.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City won their fourth Premier League title in a row last season as they beat West Ham United on the final day of the season to secure yet another league crown.
This summer promises to be an important one as City aim to build on this and aim to win back their Champions League title but the club may well be preparing to lose one of their key players.
Ederson has been a stalwart for City between the sticks since 2017 but there is every chance the Brazilian could leave the club this summer.
Ederson offered record deal to leave City
HITC understands that City goalkeeper Ederson has been offered a record deal for a goalkeeper with a wage in excess of £500,000.
Clubs from the Saudi Pro League are interested in the Brazilian goalkeeper. The Citizens had begun talks with the Brazilian back in February but those talks are now understood to have stalled.
Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have already been lured to the Middle East and Ederson could become the third name to move to Saudi Arabia.
Talks have begun with multiple Saudi clubs about moving to the Middle East with an eyewatering amount of money on offer for the goalkeeper.
This, however, would be a disastrous deal for City to do because, simply put, Ederson’s ability in Guardiola’s system are irreplaceable.
The Brazilian’s range of passing within this City team has been vital for the club’s chances and they may not be favourites for the title next season without the Brazilian.
Ortega becoming City number one is a risk
City’s plan is seemingly around goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. The German shot-stopper has been Ederson’s understudy for a long time but may well have his chance to become number one.
Ortega put pen to paper on a new contract for City and HITC reported that the club have informed the German that he could become number one next season.
However, this would be a bad idea. Ortega started in the FA Cup final against Manchester United but he struggled hugely.
A mix up between Josko Gvardiol and Ortega allowed Alejandro Garnacho to steal in and open the scoring for the Red Devils.
That inexperience in such a major final seemed to cost City, so over a nine month season he may be caught out on multiple occasions.
Starting Ortega throughout a busy season, where he will be expected to play 60 games a season, is such a huge risk. The German has never been a first choice goalkeeper for one of Europe’s top clubs and this would certainly be a risky experiment.
If Ederson is to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer, a new first choice goalkeeper should be targeted by the Citizens.
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