Saudi Pro League side open talks with Ederson over summer Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Manchester City are looking more and more likely to see one of their long-standing giants in Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad leave this summer.

That concerns the future of Ederson, with the Brazilian goalkeeper currently recovering from a reoccurrence of a problematic groin issue that has been hampering his availability throughout the course of the ongoing season.

Whilst remaining as Pep Guardiola’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper between the posts for Manchester City, issues with his groin have allowed for back-up Stefan Ortega Moreno to perform more regularly and compete for a starting place.

The Germany international has long felt as though he is ready for become Manchester City’s number one goalkeeper but has continued to find himself behind Ederson in the pecking order, creating doubts over his own willingness to continue at the Etihad Stadium.

And after several months of question marks over the pairing, it now seems as though it is the longer-standing shot-stopper who is closer to Manchester City’s exit door with talks now underway behind-the-scenes.

That is according to the information of Footmercato’s Santi Aouna, who reveals that Al-Ittihad have approached Manchester City’s Ederson, who in turn is keen to move to the Saudi Pro League in the coming months.

It is further detailed that talks are ongoing between his agent and Ramon Planes – the current sporting director at Al-Ittihad.

Speaking to Brazilian media back in October in reference to the summer market of 2024, Ederson himself confirmed, “There really was a proposal [from Saudi Arabia] on the table, something that weighed heavily, because it was an unusual proposal.”

He continued, “I had countless conversations with [Pep] Guardiola, and one was essential. But from what he told me, the guarantees, the process, the evolution I had with him… All of that was essential for me staying at Manchester City.”

Interest from Saudi Arabia and an interest from Ederson himself is believed to have come after the City goalkeeper was originally interested in a contract extension at the Etihad Stadium as late as March 2024, with that line of thinking not prevalent by the end of the season.

Manchester City officials would be expected to return to the transfer market for a new number one goalkeeper next summer should Ederson finalise an exit, with FC Porto’s Portuguese international Diogo Costa under strong consideration.