Exclusive: Ederson informs Pep Guardiola of Manchester City transfer stance as Diogo Costa update emerges

Yahoo

11 hours ago

Pep Guardiola has already been informed by Ederson directly of the Manchester City goalkeeper's openness to an exit from the club this summer, City Xtra understand.
It comes as Etihad Stadium officials continue to work on an overhaul of their playing squad, with four new faces arriving into the first-team set-up in time for the start of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
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Among the positions addressed by the club has been central midfield as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have added much-needed energy and creativity into ranks vacated by Kevin De Bruyne earlier this week.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has come in at left-back, while Marcus Bettinelli arrived from Chelsea to replace Scott Carson, with City also having been linked with other names between the posts that could be looked at in the event of an exit for either Ederson or Stefan Ortega, or both.
It is the former of the two main goalkeepers that has been most heavily linked with a departure however, attracting interest from Saudi Arabia last summer that ultimately failed to develop as City bosses stood firm on a £50 million valuation that was not matched.
While some have indicated that interest from the Middle-East is unlikely to disappear any time soon, there has been intrigue as to whether Ederson himself may maintain his stance of wanting a fresh challenge away from the Etihad Stadium.
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Now, City Xtra can reveal that Ederson and Manchester City will decide on the player's future after the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, and while the Brazilian wants to remain at the Etihad Stadium, he is also open to an exit.
Should a 'good' offer arrive, it is understood that City officials are prepared to let their long-standing number one shot-stopper depart.
Sources have also told City Xtra that Ederson and Pep Guardiola had a conversation 'a few months ago' where the former agreed to move on should the right proposal come in over the course of the summer.
From the side of Saudi Arabia, it is understood that Al-Ittihad are currently the favourites for the 31-year-old, but other clubs in the Saudi Pro League are also showing interest in one of City's all-time greatest goalkeepers.
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On the subject of a potential long-term replacement for Ederson, City Xtra understands that both Diogo Costa and FC Porto are 'happy to wait', even if that means the Portugal international staying until next summer.
The emergence of Ederson's willingness to stay at City follows a somewhat surprising revelation from Pep Guardiola whilst speaking to reporters in Spain earlier this summer, in which he appeared to indicate that both of his main shot-stoppers would remain at the club.
'I don't know much about goalkeepers. I tell them to stay. We've talked about the situation of the squad, and the two goalkeepers we have will stay,' Guardiola said whilst attending and partaking in a charity golf tournament.
The Catalan coach also had words of praise for a goalkeeper once linked with Manchester City as part of the same interview, but is now expected to finalise a move within La Liga by joining FC Barcelona from local rivals Espanyol.
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'Joan Garcia is a very good goalkeeper,' Guardiola said. 'Manchester City is interested in 500 players every transfer window,' he added on the subject of links between the Etihad club and the Spaniard.
'He's an Espanyol player, and I don't know what will happen. Players tell me he's an extraordinary goalkeeper.'
For now, it does remain to be seen whether Saudi Arabia will re-emerge with concrete interest and approaches to Manchester City for Ederson, which could ultimately lead the club towards finalising a move for FC Porto's Diogo Costa.
Information and additional reporting courtesy of City Xtra Português.