Manchester City are reportedly close to landing Benfica’s Ederson.
Benfica’s Ederson saves from Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
According to A Bola, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called Benfica goalkeeper Ederson in order to discuss a move to the Etihad Stadium, with a deal almost done.
City have endured problems between the sticks ever since Guardiola arrived, as he brought in Claudio Bravo from Barcelona and allowed long-serving Joe Hart to join Italian side Torino.
Bravo has struggled to hit top form in England, and has been dropped recently in favour of Willy Caballero, with neither proving that they can be City’s long-term solution in goal.
Now, A Bola report that City are making moves to sign a new goalkeeper, with manager Guardiola personally calling Benfica goalkeeper Ederson to try and push through a summer deal.
Ederson, 23, started his career with Sao Paulo in his native Brazil before joining Benfica in 2009, and it was only after spells with Ribeirao, Rio Ave and Benfica B team that he became a first-team regular at the Estadio da Luz.
Now Benfica’s undoubted first-choice goalkeeper, Ederson has starred both domestically and in the Champions League, and whilst he’s uncapped by Brazil, he is in Tite’s most recent squad as he looks to establish himself before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
One of the world’s top young goalkeepers, Ederson is unsurprisingly attracting interest, and A Bola claim that a deal to join Manchester City is now ‘about to be completed’.
It’s claimed that the deal will cost between €35million and €40million (£30million and £34.5million), though Benfica will only receive half of that fee, with Rio Ave claiming the other half.
With the Brazilian seemingly gearing up for a move to Manchester after speaking directly to Guardiola, Ederson is in line to join compatriots Fernandinho, Fernando and Gabriel Jesus at the Etihad Stadium.
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