MANCHESTER CITY COULD make Benfica stopper Ederson the most expensive goalkeeper in history as soon as next week, according to British media reports.
City are understood to be confident they will conclude negotiations shortly after Benfica’s Taca de Portugal final against Vitoria Guimaraes on Sunday.
Reports in Portugal on Saturday morning stressed that City would have to pay upwards of €40 million (£35m) for the 23-year-old, a figure which would eclipse the £33m Juventus paid Parma for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.
Benfica only own 50 per cent of the goalkeeper’s rights and are therefore holding out for as large a transfer fee as possible, as they will have to split half of the total between Rio Ave, the Brazilian’s former club, and football agency Gestifute.
Whether the eventual fee surpasses the world record or not, City believe they are buying a goalkeeper who has the potential to be one of the very best in the world and, crucially, one who fits into Pep Guardiola’s plans.
As with Bernardo Silva, who officially signed for City on Friday, the Blues have been working on a deal for Ederson in recent months and are now close to reaching an agreement with all parties long before the transfer window officially opens in July.
Jorge Mendes, who has been in Manchester to facilitate Silva’s move to City, is Ederson’s agent and owner of Gestifutre and will help resolve any lingering third-party issues.
Given Ederson’s rights are owned by a former club and Mendes’ own company, City believe they will be able to find a swift resolution.
City have acknowleged that the best players on the market will cost a premium this summer, and are willing to make Ederson the most expensive goalkeeper in history because they believe he is the right man for Guardiola’s system.
Claudio Bravo was brought in from Barcelona last summer to help embed Guardiola’s philosophy at City, and though the Chilean helped his team-mates play out from the back, he struggled in his first season. After losing his place to Willy Caballero for a time, he will now need to fight to dislodge his new rival.
Guardiola has bemoaned the current state of the transfer market, highlighting the £38m Real Madrid paid for 16-year-old Brazilian Vinicius Junior, and City are aware they will have to spend big money this summer if they are to land their priority targets.
But club insiders believe the £43m they paid for Silva will be recognised as a bargain by the end of the summer, and they are of the same opinion regarding Ederson.
City are also thought to be close to signing £35m-rated Kyle Walker from Tottenham, while Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy could follow Silva to the Etihad Stadium for a fee of around £40m.
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All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.