With Willy Caballero moving on, Joe Hart untrusted and Claudio Bravo proven to have a mistake in him, Manchester City are looking elsewhere for their last line of defence.
Pep Guardiola is getting his business done early, having confirmed the signing of midfielder Bernardo Silva before the weekend, and he’s about to make his second acquisition of the summer.
Reports suggest that the City boss is close to shelling out a world record fee for a goalkeeper in order to bring Benfica stopper Ederson to the Etihad Stadium.
Benfica beat Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Portugal Cup final on Sunday and seemed to issue a farewell to his team’s supporters after the full-time whistle blew.
✋ Ederson! #BenficaNoJamor pic.twitter.com/sNb3Y4qC2B
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) May 28, 2017
“I don’t know yet, but this was probably my last game at Benfica,” Ederson told Portuguese outlet RTP after the game.
Sky Sports have reported that the player, who is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, and club are in advanced talks over an astonishing £45 million move.
BREAKING: Sky sources report that Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign Benfica goalkeeper Ederson for fee in the region of £45m.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 28, 2017
If the reported fee proves true, Ederson would become the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
Gianluigi Buffon remains the costliest shot-stopper in history, with Juventus spending £32.6 million for the Italian international’s services back in 2001.
Ederson, 23, has represented Brazil at U23 level but has yet to make his senior international debut.
