Real Madrid to make £100m bid for Man City star as goalkeeper saga continues
Manchester City could see two major exits before the end of the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola has already added a few names to his squad ahead of the new season, with Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri all coming to the Etihad this summer, to help City get themselves back into the Premier League title race with Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, the future of the goalkeeper position remains uncertain, with reports suggesting that Ederson could leave the club this summer. The Brazilian has just one year left on his contract at Man City, so the club could decide to sell him.
Furthermore, reports are saying that Real Madrid are keen to sign one of Man City’s biggest stars, a deal which would no doubt be the biggest of the summer window if it was to happen.
Real Madrid to make £100m Rodri bid
In a shocking transfer development this week, it emerged that Real Madrid want to sign midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, after a year where the Spanish international spent much time recovering from his injury. Rodri made just four appearances last season for City.
However, he did return during the Club World Cup, a welcome sight to many City fans, although it now seems that there’s a chance he could leave this summer. According to a fresh report by the Sun, Madrid are ready to make a £100m bid to lure the midfielder to the Bernabeu this summer.
It is not understood that the midfielder wants to leave the Etihad, and Guardiola will be desperate to keep hold of the 29-year-old, as Man City badly missed him last summer whilst he was out with an injury.
City could sign Trafford to replace Ederson
Amid the Rodri news, there is also mass uncertainty at the goalkeeper position. Reports by Sky Sports have said that Turkish side Galatasaray are in a move to try and sign Ederson, but Man City want the goalkeeper to stay. The report also says that the Turkish side have agreed on personal terms with the Brazilian keeper’s agents.
If Ederson was to leave, City could replace him with Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, as the Times are reporting that Trafford is ‘ready to return’ to Man City if a deal can be agreed between the two clubs. There is a £40m buy-back clause in Trafford’s contract from when City sold him in 2023, and discussions have been taking place around a potential deal.
If Ederson were to leave to join Galatasaray, Man City would likely accelerate their move for Trafford, who has also been linked with a move to Newcastle United, with the Magpies keen to provide competition for Nick Pope.
Man City keen to sign Kounde from Barcelona
City are also looking to make improvements at right-back, after English full-back Kyle Walker left the club to join Burnley earlier in the month. Guardiola does have Rico Lewis as an option to play there, however, his defensive abilities are doubted, and so Man City are likely to bring in another full-back.
Recent reports have said that the club are preparing a bid for Barcelona full-back Jules Kounde, who could leave this summer as the La Liga giants are in need of more money both for wage and transfer purposes.
Reports in Spain have said that City are willing to offer around £69m in order to sign the French international. Kounde made 53 appearances for Barcelona last season, scoring four goals, and providing eight assists.