Reliable Manchester City sources confirm Ederson to Al Ittihad transfer developments

Manchester City-centred sources have confirmed fresh developments surrounding the future of Ederson and fresh transfer interest from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad.

The Brazil international goalkeeper has returned to Manchester City training ground duties in the last few days, reporting back to the City Football Academy initially before travelling with the squad to the United States for their pre-season tour.

However, despite reintegrating himself into Pep Guardiola’s first-team set-up, and appearing to be in high spirits amongst his teammates this week, there remains huge question marks over where his future could lie next season.

Manchester City supporters were issued with some hope last week after it emerged that Al Nassr had retracted their interest in Ederson, having seen an opening offer rejected and clear differences in valuations proving too difficult to resolve.

As such, the Saudi Pro League side turned to one of Ederson’s international teammates in Bento, leaving Manchester City to reassess their own goalkeeping situation and hold belief that Ederson could remain at the club after all.

However, reliable sources working around coverage of the Premier League champions have since confirmed developments from the Middle-East indicating a new desire from another club to recruit Ederson.

As per the Manchester Evening News’ Joe Bray, there has been contact between Manchester City and Al Ittihad over the future of goalkeeper Ederson. However, it is made clear that the Premier League champions will remain firm on their valuation of the Brazilian.

Following a bid from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, the report states that City will hold out for ‘significantly more’ than Al Nassr’s opening and only offer of £25 million, while MailSport’s Jack Gaughan reports that Ederson is believed to be valued at somewhere nearer £50 million.

But what approach would Manchester City take in the summer transfer market, should an agreement be found between themselves and Al Ittihad for the services of Ederson ahead of the new season?

Joe Bray reports that should the Saudi Pro League side meet Manchester City’s valuation, then Etihad Stadium bosses would look to sign a replacement goalkeeper, with Stefan Ortega likely to step up to the role of number one choice.

Recent claims from elsewhere in European media have pointed towards Paris Saint-Germain and Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as a potential player of interest for the goalkeeping ranks in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

However, it is unlikely that the 25-year-old would be content with making a move to the Etihad Stadium only to act as a back-up choice, while his abilities to transition into Manchester City’s ball-playing style of play could be called into question.

City do however hold some say in the future of Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, and there is a belief in some quarters that the club could look to re-sign the England international having sold him to the Turf Moor club just last summer in a £19 million package.