Manchester City believe they can sign their ideal Ederson replacement for a cut-price fee this summer as Pep Guardiola steps up his plans for the summer transfer window.
City are gearing up for a summer of transformation after a disappointing campaign which could still see them miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League.
Kevin de Bruyne has already announced he will end his ten-year spell at the club while the likes of Jack Grealish, John Stones and Bernardo Silva could also all depart.
Among the upheaval, City are expected to part ways with Ederson after seeing a decline in his performances and fitness this season and FootballTransfers revealed in January that Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is understood to be the club’s top target in goal.
City are set to step up their chase for Costa in the coming months, with The Mirror reporting that the arrival of Hugo Viana as their new director of football could lead to a decrease in Porto’s asking price due to his strong relations with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes.
Porto were expected to demand Costa’s release clause of around €75 million but City are optimistic they could secure their preferred target for a much more feasible price closer to €60m.
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Costa has established himself as a standout goalkeeper in Europe due to his reputation for saving penalties as well as his ability on the ball for club and country, which has made him Guardiola’s ideal option to succeed Ederson.
Ederson’s contract expires next summer and City are hoping to take advantage of strong interest from Saudi Arabia to cash in on their long-serving custodian after a difficult season for the 33-year-old.
City have often found themselves rotating between Ederson and backup Stefan Ortega due to the Brazilian’s constant struggle with injuries and inconsistent form, with both keepers likely to be replaced this summer.
A move for Anatoliy Trubin has also been considered, with FootballTransfers revealing earlier this month that talks have already been held with Benfica over the Ukrainian, but it remains to be seen whether the 23-year-old is also targeted along with Costa or as an alternative.
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