Man City told to go ‘big’ and sign superstar goalkeeper to replace Ederson
Manchester City need to aim higher than signing Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic as they pursue a long-term successor to Ederson.
Ederson’s future at the Etihad Stadium has been in doubt throughout this season after some below-par performances by the Brazilian, as well as speculation over a potential move to the Saudi Pro League.
Pep Guardiola has rotated Ederson and Stefan Ortega in every competition City have played in this term bar the EFL Cup, though the 31-year-old has still been first-choice with 30 appearances to Ortega’s 16.
Football Insider revealed on 8 March that Ederson is “open” to the possibility of an exit this summer, with significant contract offers lined up by no less than three of the PIF-owned Saudi Arabian sides.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider last month that Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are all keen on signing Ederson, but it remains to be seen if he’ll take up one last big contract.
With Ederson looking increasingly likely to leave City this summer, attention will now turn to his potential replacement between the sticks at the Etihad, with Milinkovic-Savic touted with making the step up.
However, Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that despite Milikovic-Savic collecting 10 clean sheets in 30 appearances this season, City may need to break the bank to sign an even better goalkeeper.
Man City must go ‘top level’ to find Ederson successor
Ortega could well make the step up to become City’s full-time keeper if and when Ederson’s departure is confirmed, but it’s more likely that Guardiola will sound out a replacement to compete with the German.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Robinson argued that while Milinkovic-Savic is a solid enough option, City need a player who will fit in with Guardiola’s style of play.
“They’re going to have to go in at a top, top level – Milinkovic-Savic is a decent goalkeeper”, he told Football Insider.
“If they are to replace Ederson long term; you’ve seen this season when he’s brought Ortega in, he’s rotated Ederson out the side – they’re going to have to go top level, Manchester City.
“You can see the way that Pep wants to play, it’s such a key role in his team. They start the attacks. We’ll say it – the quarterbacks of American football; it’s like a playbook which the goalkeeper starts.
“Milinkovic-Savic, for me, [is] not at that level yet. Potentially yes, maybe further down the line. But if they’re going to invest and going to go hard for a new number one, need to go in the market, they need to go big and spend properly.”
Man City set for seismic summer overhaul
It’s not just between the sticks where there’s set to be a shake-up for City this summer – almost every position in Guardiola’s team could be occupied by a new face at the start of next term compared to last.
Football Insider reported on 30 March that AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders has emerged as City’s top target ahead of the summer window, but his arrival may have to be facilitated by no less than three departures.
City’s former financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Kevin de Bruyne looks highly likely to leave the Eithad, and he could be joined by Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic at the exit door.
With Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez already signed in January, the starting XI in sky blue could soon be unrecognisable compared to Guardiola’s treble-winning lineup.