Yahoo Sports Guardiola desperate to hold onto key Man City player amid Saudi transfer links
Pep Guardiola insists he wants Ederson to remain at Manchester City after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian goalkeeper was the subject of a bid from Al-Nassr, which was rejected by the Premier League club for being well below their valuation of the player, while Al-Ittihad have reportedly registered an interest in his signature.
Following defeat to Celtic in a pre-season friendly in midweek, Guardiola suggested that Ederson, who has two years left on his contract, could leave the club.
“I don’t know – he has to see maybe now other options,” he said. “Of course I’d like him to stay. Depends now the clubs. I don’t know the situation, no contact in the last days. A question of training and being with us until the transfer window finishes and we see what happens.
Read – Six Premier League players who could move to Saudi this summer
He added: “We will see until the last day of the transfer window when anything can happen. Not just Ederson but many players.”
Guardiola was more forthright in his comments on Saturday, insisting that he would like to see Ederson continue his career at Man City next season.
“I wish with the bottom of my heart Eddie will continue with us,” he told reporters this week.
“I would love him to stay. I cannot imagine our processes succeeding these last seasons without him. He is an important figure in the locker room.”
The 30-year-old shot stopper has been integral to City’s success over the years, keeping more clean sheets (112) than any other keeper in the Premier League since he joined the club in 2017.
In that time he has won every piece of silverware available, including a sixth Premier League title last season.
Read – Guardiola comments on Man City future as contract winds down
Ranked – Ranking every Premier League club by their record signing
