One Manchester City player is now said to have reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with another club.
City got their pre-season off to a losing start last night as they crashed to a 4-3 defeat against Celtic in the US.
Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland and Maximo Perrone got the goals for City, but the Scottish giants ran out winners in North Carolina.
The game was a chance for Pep Guardiola to take stock of his squad.
Many of the squad are still away, with players having been involved at international tournaments. So this was an opportunity for some fringe players and youngsters to make an impression.
One man who was at an international tournament this summer, but has still travelled to the US for pre-season, is Ederson.
Ederson has been the subject of intense speculation this summer and is a target for the Saudi Pro League.
Ederson has ‘verbal agreement’ with Al-Ittihad as Pep Guardiola admits he doesn’t know if Man City goalkeeper will stay
It has been claimed by Caught Offside that Ederson has reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with Al-Ittihad.
The Saudi club are said to have offered Ederson a three-year contract worth a staggering £67 million, and the Brazilian has verbally agreed on those personal terms.
This claim comes despite journalist Rudy Galetti suggesting Al-Ittihad had given up trying to sign the current City number one.
Last night, City took on Celtic in the US and manager Pep Guardiola was actually asked about Ederson and the current situation with him.
The Spaniard admitted that he didn’t actually know if Ederson – who came on at half-time last night – would be staying.
He said (via BBC Sport): “I’d like him to stay but it depends on other clubs.
“I don’t know the situation. There have been no contacts in the last days. It’s a question of training, being with us until the transfer window finishes and we’ll see.”
City now need quick resolution to Ederson situation
With City’s pre-season tour having now started, the club could do with the Ederson situation coming to an end.
It is probably not ideal to have all the background noise surrounding the player.
It sounds as though £100,000-a-week star Ederson is keen on a move to Saudi. But of course, it is all going to depend on whether Al-Ittihad can pay what City are asking for. It is all well and good throwing cash at players, but Ederson is an asset to City and will not come cheap.
City are thought to be looking for at least £42 million to sell.
It would be a real shame to lose him. he has been integral to the way City have played for many years now.
But Pep has a solid replacement in Stefan Ortega, who is expected to assume the number one spot should the Brazilian depart.
