‘Ederson exit now certain’ as goalkeeper says ‘yes’ to joining Man City
Manchester City are set to have a new face between the sticks next season after Ederson’s long-term replacement agreed to a transfer.
Ederson’s future at the Etihad Stadium has been clouded for some time, after the Brazilian actively pushed for a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer and has been in and out of the side this season.
Pep Guardiola has retained the 31-year-old as his first-choice despite the usage of Stefan Ortega on more regular occasions this term, but come the summer, Ederson is expected to head for pastures new.
Ex-Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last month that Man City plan to make at least five “top-class signings” in the transfer window, and one of those is likely to come in Ederson’s net.
Diogo Costa gives green light to Man City transfer
With Ederson seemingly on his way out after Football Insider revealed earlier this month that “massive offers” are set to come in for the City keeper, attention will soon turn to Guardiola’s next number one.
Paul Robinson told Football Insider back in October that Man City’s interest in Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa was “active”, and those talks have now become concrete with a £51million transfer on the cards.
| Player | Appearances | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Yellow/Red Cards | Games Missed |
| Ederson | 33 | 47 | 9 | 3 | 19 |
| Stefan Ortega | 20 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 40 |
Sacha Tavolieri reported for Sky Sport.ch (28 April) that City’s goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor has held a remote meeting with Costa on Guardiola’s orders, and Costa “gave the green light” to the move.
Costa’s agent Jorge Mendes has played a key role in talks so far, but Porto are adamant they won’t sell Costa for any less than his £64m release clause despite City’s keenness to bring that fee down to £51m.
Diogo Costa transfer paves Ederson exit plan at Man City
Guardiola’s transfer kitty certainly won’t be short of cash this summer as Man City bid to rebuild and improve on a below-par season, and Costa is seen as a “perfect” replacement for Ederson at the Etihad.
Robinson urged City to aim higher than the likes of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic when he told Football Insider of their transfer plans last month, but Porto’s stance on Costa’s release clause will be difficult to change.
City’s first-choice XI will look wildly different next season as a summer of change ramps up, and while the exit of Kevin De Bruyne is already confirmed, expect Ederson and several others to soon follow suit.