“I would love him to stay” – Pep Guardiola admits summer transfer exit fear of key first-team member | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed growing fears surrounding the future of goalkeeper Stefan Ortega ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 31-year-old has continued to stall contract extension talks at the Etihad Stadium, with the German goalkeeper currently out of contract at Manchester City in 2025, having penned an initial three-year deal upon signing in July 2022 from Arminia Bielefeld.

Ortega, who joined Pep Guardiola’s side on a free transfer, could be set to depart the treble-winners at the end of the campaign, as Manchester City look to sell the shot-stopper and avoid losing the player on a free transfer next year.

Manchester City have previously rejected offers from Bayern Munich for the goalkeeper, meanwhile Ortega had been close to joining west London club Brentford prior to signing for the Sky Blues.

Ortega, who won the treble during his maiden campaign in England, has made 31 appearances for Manchester City to date, including 17 this season, after injuries to Ederson forced the German to start a series of recent games.

The goalkeeper started Manchester City’s first-leg draw with Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last month, and also played in the crunch Premier League clash against Arsenal in March.

The 31-year-old has been brought on as a substitute on three occasions this season, and is also set to start this month’s Emirates FA Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

The showdown clash in north London could prove to be Ortega’s final appearance for Manchester City amid growing transfer uncertainty, although manager Guardiola is still keen to try and retain the German shot-stopper.

“I would love him to stay, the club loves him to stay. We will let him feel, yeah, I would love it. But I don’t know,” revealed the Manchester City boss.

“It’s him. Everyone has their own life, wives, kids, desires, and I don’t know. I think he’s fine, he’s really happy here, but I could understand perfectly for the fact that he is more than 30-years-old and, ‘I want to play every, every weekend’. So, honestly, I don’t know.”

Manchester City are bracing for a series of potential high-profile departures this summer, with uncertainty surrounding the future of Bernardo Silva, as well as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker.

The Blues could also be forced into the market for a new understudy goalkeeper, should Ortega complete a move away.