Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJul 5, 2024, 9:20 AM ET
Manchester City are facing a battle to keep hold of Ederson with Al Nassr prepared to offer a contract worth nearly three times what he earns at City, a source has told ESPN.
Ederson is on a list of potential targets for the Saudi Pro League side which also includes Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Wojciech Szczesnywho is set to leave Juventus.
City are keen to keep the Brazil internationalbut a source has told ESPN that they will consider his departure if he asks to leave and their valuation is met by another club.
The 30-year-old is Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper and is under contract until 2026, meaning City would demand a significant fee.
He cost £35 million ($44.8m) when he arrived from Benfica in 2017 and has gone on to win six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
A source has told ESPN that Ederson could earn more than £600,000 a week at Al Nassr, a figure that City would not come close to matching even if they decide to negotiate a new contract.
A source has told ESPN that, despite interest in their first-choice goalkeeper, City remain relaxed about the situation after Stefan Ortega signed a contract extension in June. It keeps Ortega at the Etihad until 2026.
Guardiola, according to a source, would have no problem starting the season with Ortega as his first-choice goalkeeper if Ederson leaves.
The German, who has been Ederson’s understudy since 2022, made 20 appearances in all competitions last season, making a crucial save to deny Son Heung-Min in their penultimate league game at Tottenham to help City clinch a record fourth title in a row.
Sources have told ESPN that, despite interest in signing a goalkeeper, Al Nassr’s priority in the summer window is to sign a central midfielder, with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes one of the names in the frame.