Manchester City open talks over €40 million-rated goalkeeper as summer transfer rebuild begins | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City have reportedly opened talks over a potential new goalkeeping arrivals into the Etihad Stadium this summer as part of a major rebuild.

The news comes as yet another injury concern was sustained by first-team number one shot-stopper Ederson during the 5-2 win over Crystal Palace, in a season that has been more of an individual struggle on a fitness front for the Brazilian.

With more time spent on the sidelines than usual recovering from injury and fitness-related problems, Stefan Ortega Moreno has been handed more opportunities to impress between the posts as he maintains a desire to hold down the role of first-choice for Pep Guardiola.

However, both situations have thrown the futures of Manchester City’s lead goalkeeping options into doubt heading towards the summer market, just a year on from the last summer of uncertainty concerning the pair.

It remains to be seen whether Saudi Arabia will return for Ederson, or what first-team number one choice opportunities at the top of the European game could emerge for Ortega Moreno, but in the meantime City officials appear to be bracing themselves for a goalkeeping change.

That is according to the information of Football Transfers’ Steve Kay, who claims that Manchester City have opened talks with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, amid growing doubts over the futures of the club’s existing shot-stopping duo.

It is claimed that City are ready to table an initial offer of around €25 million for the 23-year-old, while the Portuguese club are standing firm on a valuation closer to €40 million for a player who is also thought to have a €100 million release clause in his contract.

Trubin is said to have been on Manchester City’s transfer radar since the beginning of last season, while it appears as though performances for both his club and country have only attracted more attention from the Etihad Stadium.

Any move for a goalkeeper this summer is likely to follow completed deals for moves elsewhere in the squad, with the wider belief being that central midfield is the number one priority for club officials.

Leading the pursuit of transfer targets come the summer will be Manchester City’s new full-time sporting director, Hugo Viana – who will be replacing Txiki Begiristain after he spent 12 seasons at the club.

Viana will currently work alongside Begiristain in the lead up to the summer window having began providing insight into market activity in January but taking his work into a full-time position from the first week of April.