Pep Guardiola leaves door open for Ederson and Manchester City exit this summer | OneFootball

It was a tense start to Pep Guardiola’s pre-FA Cup semi-final press conference on Friday afternoon as reporters pressed the Manchester City manager on speculation looming over the future of goalkeeper Ederson.

Guardiola is fighting to lead Manchester City over the line into next season’s UEFA Champions League and end what has been a disappointing season on a high by going all the way in the FA Cup to win the competition for the eighth time in the club’s history.

The 54-year-old has struggled with major absentees all season and a major drop-off in form in every area of his squad at various spells of the campaign, which has left Manchester City battling for a top-five Premier League finish to play in next season’s Champions League.

A big summer rebuild is in store and incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is working alongside Txiki Begiristain to conduct a thorough audit of Guardiola’s squad to build a winning side for the years to come.

A long list of first-team stars could depart the Etihad Stadium in the summer transfer window, starting in goal as doubts loom over the future(s) of Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno – both of whom are understood to be open to leaving Manchester City at the end of this season.

Ederson is believed to have pushed for a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer but reports have held that suitor clubs were not able to match Manchester City’s valuation of the 31-year-old shotstopper.

An array of reports have once again linked Ederson with a prospective move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with talks over the Brazilian’s future expected as he enters the final 15 months of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest at Wembley, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on Ederson’s future in Manchester and whether the six-time Premier League winner could leave the club at the end of the season.

“I don’t want to speak about this situation right now. About the possible situations, personals. We are really pleased for the victory in the last game but we cannot forget that the games our contenders have in hand, we can be 5th in the table,” said Guardiola in a press conference.

“There are many, many important games to play, we have a semi-final. I’m not going to talk about any personal situations right now. We have time for every single situation and every single player that they deserve to be dealt like they want – for the benefit of them, their families, agents, clubs, anything in the right moment.”

Guardiola has seemingly left the door open for Ederson to seek his long-desired move away from City at the end of the season. “Now is not the right moment. Maybe internally the players can do whatever they want, but here it’s not the time,” the Manchester City manager finished.