Manchester City have a huge week ahead in the final days of the summer transfer window, with their goalkeeper department far from sorted.
James Trafford re-signed this summer as a long-term successor to Ederson, who has a year left on his contract at City, while former number two Stefan Ortega has been expected to leave amid the fresh competition.
Ederson turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia last summer, yet continues to be linked with an exit and TBR Football has reported that Ederson has asked City bosses to leave for Galatasaray. It is also understood that Gianluigi Donnarumma will be the top target if Ederson leaves.
James Trafford of Manchester City reacts after conceding during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
The Brazilian missed the win at Wolves through illness as Trafford impressed, but Trafford was at fault in Saturday’s defeat to Tottenham with Ederson watching on in fury from the bench.
Thierry Henry spots James Trafford weakness in Man City defeat as Ederson future remains uncertain
Analysing Tottenham’s win at Man City this weekend, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry showed a still of City building possession against Spurs in the first half, with the ball on the left touchline.
Henry noted that the only outlet was a long ball forward to Erling Haaland due to Tottenham’s effective man-to-man pressing, but stressed City would never opt for such a direct ball.
Henry then continued: “Ederson would have been here,” pointing at a vacant area midway through the City area while James Trafford was static on his line and not showing for the ball.
“And when Ederson comes here [into the space], one of the Tottenham players would have to jump on him, and then you can free the player that he left. But they didn’t do it. It became very difficult, they ended up playing short and more short.”
Jamie Carragher says Man City will have ‘problem’ if they sell Ederson
Building on Henry’s analysis of Spurs’ man-to-man marking, fellow pundit Jamie Carragher suggested that Ederson’s omission from the Man City team, or even his potential sale, presents a problem for Pep Guardiola.
Ederson in action for Man City in the Club World Cup
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Carragher added: “Because City have had Ederson, in that situation it’s not 10 vs 10 like it is for most teams because Ederson is that good on the ball it’s almost 11 vs 10.
“But if you don’t have Ederson and you have Trafford, or any other goalkeeper in the Premier League, it does become just 10 vs 10 and that’s maybe the problem City have got if they’re not going to use Ederson.”
Trafford’s error against Spurs thrust the goalkeeper issue into the spotlight with a week to go in the transfer window. However, fans also made clear that any potential signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma wouldn’t solve the possession problem as he is not renowned for playing the ball out like Ederson.