Burnley and Sunderland goalkeepers emerge as potential replacements for Manchester City’s Ederson | OneFootball

Manchester City could turn to the EFL Championship this summer, should they be required to source a new goalkeeper to replace Saudi Arabia target Ederson.

The Brazilian international has been the subject of intense transfer speculation for the most-part of the ongoing summer transfer window, with Saudi Arabian clubs doing their best to tempt Manchester City into a sale.

Al-Nassr made the first efforts to test the Premier League champions’ resolve, with Ederson agreeing to the lucrative personal terms on offer, but the Riyadh club seeing an opening and subsequently only bid of £25 million rejected by City officials.

Then came interest from Al-Ittihad, who are expected to try their own luck with Manchester City, who are now braced for bids for Ederson but standing firm on a valuation close to £50 million on the 30-year-old.

Such is the level of interest from the Middle-East that Manchester City are putting together contingency plans for the new season, should they need to turn towards the transfer market to replenish their goalkeeping ranks in the event of an Ederson sale.

According to the information of HITC, Manchester City have been ‘doing their homework’ on potential goalkeeper options this summer, with the Premier League champions eager to sign a back-up that can challenge Stefan Ortega – who would be poised to become number one.

It is pointed out that Manchester City have assessed the Championship talent pool for shot-stoppers, and have looked at Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, who is also admired by those in recruitments positions at Liverpool.

Manchester City Academy graduate James Trafford is also reportedly on the radar at the Etihad Stadium over a potential return to the club, with a buy-back clause in the agreement reached with Burnley last summer.

Trafford in particular has long been highly-rated by Manchester City officials, with the player himself openly admitting that his long-term goal in the game is to become the Etihad Stadium’s number one choice.

His senior playing career has seen him record two loan deals and his recent permanent switch to Burnley, having starred at both Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers in the Football League prior to working under Vincent Kompany in the Premier League.

Speaking in the summer of 2023, Trafford explained, “My long-term goal is playing in the UEFA Champions League and for England. If you want to be in the Champions League you’ve got to be in the top four teams in England.”

He continued, “Whether it’s Manchester City or any other of the big clubs, I believe I will be at that level.”