Man City transfer news: Ederson, Stefan Ortega U-turn predicted as move for “world class” Gianluigi Donnarumma given green light

Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany would not be surprised to see either Ederson or Stefan Ortega leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, despite Pep Guardiola’s plea for them to stay.

Speculation over the futures of both Ederson and Ortega has been rife for some time, with both goalkeepers set to see their contracts with the Citizens expire in June 2026.

First-choice goalkeeper Ederson has been strongly linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia for more than 12 months, while number two Ortega has been tipped to return to his native Germany and join a Bundesliga team as he seeks regular first-team football.

Despite uncertainty over their futures at Man City, Guardiola recently stated that both Ederson and Ortega “will stay” at the club this summer and played down the possibility of a new arrival between the sticks.

However, McInerney feels that a goalkeeping exit is still on the cards at Man City and has acknowledged that losing as many as three goalkeepers in one window - including backup shot-stopper Scott Carson whose departure has now been confirmed - would be “an issue”.

“I think one of [Ederson and Ortega] will go,” McInerney told Sports Mole. “The quotes sounded like Guardiola was saying they're staying, but I think it was more the expectation with the translation, as opposed to affirmative.

Could Ederson and Ortega leave Man City this summer?

“I think he wants them to stay. He's asking them to stay, and I think City will probably like it because it's easy that way. But I still feel one of them is going to leave. Maybe two, it could steamroll like that.

“If City get a decent bid for Ortega, £15m, £20m and someone wants him to be their number one over in Germany and he wants to go, City would accept it.  

“At that point you've got a bit of an issue there. Obviously Scott Carson's gone - that's not a big issue as he was not playing much - but you can’t have three goalkeepers leave who've been part of training in the senior setup for such a long time.

“Carson was one of the homegrown registered players as well, so City have squad balancing issues there as well on that front.”

“I don't want players here who don’t want to be here,” McInerney added. “I think there were signs last season that Ederson was great, but towards the start of the season, in particular, his head was not in it at all. He was very distracted. You could see his form was erratic.

“Ederson can be a little bit erratic every now and then, but it was very obvious to me there was an element of him feeling like he's here because things hadn't gone how he wanted them to.”

Recent reports have claimed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma has evoked the possibility of a move to England with Italy teammates on international duty this month, with both Man City and Man United having expressed an interest in signing the goalkeeper.

Ederson out, Donnarumma in at Man City?

The 26-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract and while his priority is to commit his future to the Champions League winners, both parties are yet to agree fresh terms, leaving the door open for a potential summer departure to another top European club.

“I want a new keeper at this point,” said McInerney. “I don’t think Ederson wants to be here. I'm fine if he is because he's Ederson, he's brilliant, he's a City legend, probably our best ever keeper, one of them at the very least, but I think the links to people like Donnarumma, Diogo Costa and [Lucas] Chevalier are there for a reason.

“We've been linked to too many keepers. Joan Garcia was linked as well. I think City are playing the market and seeing who's available because we have no choice but to. I am relaxed with all these options. I think they're very different.

“Donnarumma is obviously not quite as comfortable with his feet, but still, he played for the European champions in goal and they're aggressively technical side. One thing Donnarumma will bring that we haven't had for a long time is he's a pure shot-stopper. He's an absolutely brilliant shot-stopper, world class, one of the best.

“Even though I'm so accustomed to technical goalkeepers, it would be stupid to question Donnarumma coming to Manchester City because he's got so much ability. Diogo Costa, excellent as well. I'd be very happy with him at Manchester City. I think he looked great in the Nations League as well for Portugal. They're both really good options.

“It just is very much dependent on who goes. City are experienced enough to know that you have to keep your cards close to your chest and pull the trigger when you need to, but I'd be amazed if City want this to go on forever.

“I think they'll be wanting Ederson and Ortega to make a commitment on their future inside the next month or so, because you lose out on targets eventually, and Donnarumma isn't going to wait around for City if he's an option to move. Diogo Costa as well. They'll want to know sooner rather than later.”

“World class” Donnarumma “would suit” Man City

Asked if Donnarumma would be a realistic target for Man City should he fail to agree fresh contract terms with PSG, McInerney said: “Yeah why not? Donnarumma has proven himself at the highest level of football.

“As much as he isn’t Ederson with the ball - I don't know how much Guardiola would care about that. He might do an awful lot, but if Luis Enrique (rates him), one of his best friends in football who matches him in terms of his philosophy aggressively, why not for City?

“I think he would suit City. I presume City aren't going to concede as many chances as last year, but when they do, there'll be big chances, and Donnarumma is one of the best in the world at that.

“I've watched for years with slight jealousy at what [Thibaut] Courtois did against City in the Champions League. Ederson's a cracking keeper, but he's not a shot-stopper in the class of Donnarumma or Courtois, for example.

“I think in the way that you need big moment forwards, big moment midfielders, you sometimes need a big moment goalkeeper as well to win elite trophies. I don’t think it's a coincidence that when City won the treble, Ederson probably had his best run of form in terms of shot-stopping in ages. He was excellent in the Champions League final and made some big saves.

“I think Donnarumma would bring a hell of a lot of experience already, despite not being the oldest, and he’s a world-class keeper, so he absolutely would suit City.”

> Click this link to view and hear the full discussion.

Written by
Oliver Thomas