Manchester City are currently preparing for the 25/26 Premier League season.
Pep Guardiola’s squad returned to pre-season training last week following their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup and will play their only friendly of the summer on Saturday as they travel to Italy to face Palermo.
The off-season has seen new faces and coaches added to Guardiola’s ranks, with the signing of James Trafford being Man City’s sixth of the current transfer window.
Following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, the Manchester club will be out to put things right this season, but Paul Scholes has a big concern that he thinks could prevent City from winning the Premier League.
Ederson shouting commands during Manchester City v Al-Hilal.
Photo by Elsa – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Paul Scholes thinks Ederson is a big worry for Man City
Ederson has been on a decline at Man City for a while now, and that was evident last season, as it was clear that Guardiola did not have full faith in the Brazilian as he took him out of the team for a period of time.
Man City fans have also lost faith in Ederson after the mistakes he made against Al Hilal at the FIFA Club World Cup, and Scholes has revealed that the goalkeeper worries him heading into the new Premier League season.
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“I don’t think enough is mentioned about goalkeepers. You think of the best teams. Look at the best team last year with Liverpool, the best goalkeeper in the world,” the pundit said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
“I think when you [Man City] were winning leagues, Ederson was up there. I don’t think he was ever quite at Alisson’s level, but I’d say he was a top keeper.
“Now, Ederson worries me for City. And again, as Adam says, I don’t think James Trafford, from his experience in the Premier League when he was in it the first time, is great with his feet, brilliant. But I think your feet. I know it’s a big part of it these days, but I think it starts to be secondary.
“You start to be a presence in the goal. I’m looking at Alisson and think, I don’t know who will score past him. I think every other keeper in the Premier League, I think I score past them.”
Ederson is expected to start the season as Man City’s number one, but given the speculation that took place around the 31-year-old’s future this summer, many fans will worry about where the Brazilian’s head is at.
James Trafford will take over from Ederson
Ederson was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, and with the Brazilian wanting that to happen, it is not certain how that affected his performances last season.
Galatasaray were keen to sign Ederson during the current transfer window, and once again, the 31-year-old was open to the move. So will history repeat itself?
Player Games Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Minutes
Ederson 40 54 13 3611
James Trafford 46 16 29 4050
Ederson and James Trafford’s 24/25 stats
The Brazilian is a worry for Guardiola ahead of the new Premier League season, and it is not a surprise that Man City went out and signed Trafford, who looks set to be the future at the Etihad Stadium.
The English goalkeeper is very likely to get a chance to prove himself at some point in the season, and once that happens, it will be hard to see Ederson getting the number one spot back, as the £35m Brazil international is set to leave the Premier League giants at the end of the campaign.