‘Perfect’ Goalkeeper Set to Replace Ederson with Newcastle Missing Out

There have been multiple major updates regarding Manchester City’s goalkeeping department over the last few days as Ederson and James Trafford have verbally agreed to leave and join the Cityzens respectively, whilst Newcastle look set to pull out of the race to sign the Burnley shot-stopper.

Trafford, Ederson Informally Agree Personal Terms, Newcastle Out of Race

What Has Changed in Recent Days?

Perhaps the biggest update involving this goalkeeping transfer saga is that Newcastle United are seemingly ready to pull out of the race to sign Trafford, who was called “perfect” by EFL expert Don Goodman earlier this year, according to Craig Hope. Eddie Howe’s side have been long-term admirers of the young goalkeeper and there were even rumours about a potential move to St. James’ Park last summer. The Magpies looked to have made good progress towards signing the 22-year-old this window, though they are now prepared to move on from the deal, which has stalled slightly over the last couple of weeks.

This has major ramifications for City, as their main competition for Trafford, who were ostensibly further along in the negotiation process than the Cityzens, have now left the negotiating table, meaning Pep Guardiola’s side are the only team majorly interested in signing the Englishman.

Further good news for City fans emerged just 24 hours later after Fabrizio Romano reported that Trafford is “keen” to move back to the Etihad Stadium. The clubs simply need to come to an agreement over a transfer fee, as the Cityzens do not want to activate the youngster’s £40 million buyback clause as things stand.

Ederson to Depart

Romano also reiterated that the deal was contingent on one of City’s two established goalkeepers departing the Etihad Stadium, but there has been more movement on that front. Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that a “full verbal agreement” between Ederson and Turkish giants Galatasaray has been “confirmed” and that the Lions are convinced they will be able to come to an agreement with City over a transfer fee

Although L’Equipe reported that Galatasaray had tabled a €3 million bid for the Brazilian, who teammate Jeremy Doku has termed “reliable“, earlier this week, Romano has said that the French publication are wide of the mark and that there is “no formal proposal on the table at this stage“. There have also been murmurs about Stefan Ortega Moreno potentially leaving Manchester this summer, though these rumours have not advanced much.

With the Cityzens due to kick off their Premier League campaign away from home against Wolverhampton Wanderers in less than a month, Hugo Viana and co. must move quickly to ensure that a new shot-stopper has enough time to build familiarity with the rest of City’s defence.