City Plot Goalkeeper Move For Porto Star with Ederson and Ortega Likely to Exit | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Goalkeeper Dilemma – A Summer of Big Decisions Ahead

Manchester City are entering one of their most intriguing off-seasons under Pep Guardiola, with the rebuild already well underway following a frenetic January. Now, the focus shifts firmly to a position that has been rock solid for nearly a decade — between the sticks.

As Manchester Evening News revealed earlier this week, City have their eyes on Porto’s Diogo Costa, signalling potential changes for both Ederson and Stefan Ortega. With both goalkeepers’ futures uncertain, the coming weeks could prove decisive for the direction of Guardiola’s evolving project.

Photo: IMAGO

New Era, New Eyes on Goal

Hugo Viana is set to take over from Txiki Begiristain as City’s sporting director and has been tasked with overseeing a critical summer. His attention, according to the MEN, is immediately on the goalkeeping department.

Ederson has been City’s number one for eight years, revolutionising the role with his distribution and sweeping style. But his once-flawless performances have faltered this term. As the article reports, “mistakes have started to creep into his game this season and he was close to leaving City in the summer.”

Photo IMAGO

That flirtation with the Saudi Pro League hasn’t faded, and at 31 with a contract expiring next summer, City’s window to cash in is narrow. Similarly, Ortega’s rise has not gone unnoticed — especially in Germany.

Ortega’s Rise and European Attraction

Ortega’s reliability has given City a safety net, especially when Ederson was sidelined. His defining moment arguably came in the 2023/24 title run-in — “his crucial save in City’s win over Tottenham in the penultimate game of last season’s Premier League title win” was as vital as any goal scored at the other end.

Now, at 32 and with suitors in the Bundesliga keen to install him as their No.1, Ortega could also move on. Should both goalkeepers exit, Guardiola would be left threadbare in a department that once looked untouchable.

Diogo Costa Scouted as Long-Term Successor

That’s why interest in Diogo Costa feels timely. As MEN report, “the Manchester Evening News revealed earlier in the week that Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa was on their radar.”

Costa, at 25, is already Portugal’s first-choice keeper, boasting 34 caps and starring in both the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Euros. Roberto Martinez’s praise was emphatic:

That ‘secret’ is out. Costa’s composure, shot-stopping, and proficiency with the ball at his feet make him a natural heir to Ederson — but with a £51million release clause, it will take conviction from Viana to pull the trigger.

Portuguese Ties and Mendes Connection

City’s established Portuguese links — from Ruben Dias to Bernardo Silva — offer a soft landing for Costa. That he shares the same agent, Jorge Mendes, as Ederson only adds to the intrigue. Viana will know the lay of the land well.

If City are to make the move, now seems the moment. Allowing both Ederson and Ortega to run down contracts or exit without plans in place would risk unsettling a squad that thrives on control.

This could be one of Guardiola’s most significant summers. Not just about buying talent — but securing the soul of his tactical structure. Because in this City team, the goalkeeper is more than a last line of defence — he’s the first act of attack.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This report gives off a very uneasy feeling. As a City supporter, the idea of losing both Ederson and Ortega in one window is nothing short of nerve-wracking. Sure, Ederson hasn’t been flawless this season, but he’s been the backbone of our style since Pep arrived. You don’t just replace eight years of elite consistency and ball-playing ability overnight.

Stefan Ortega stepping up has been a blessing — that Tottenham save last season was title-defining. Yet letting him go, too? That feels like tempting fate. If Bundesliga clubs are lining up for him, then surely we should do more to keep him rather than hand him over.

Diogo Costa sounds great on paper — young, talented, praised by Martinez — but £51million is a serious fee, especially when we don’t know how he’ll settle in the Premier League. Portuguese league form doesn’t always translate directly.

City have always planned well, but this feels like a risky reshuffle. Letting either keeper go is tough enough — losing both could cause the kind of instability at the back we’ve so carefully avoided all these years. This summer needs surgical precision, not a sweeping clear-out.