The Hard Tackle lists three candidates Manchester City should target to replace Ederson Moraes amid his emerging exit links from the Etihad.
Manchester City never shy away from splashing the cash in the market, and they heralded the arrival of plenty of new signings during the winter transfer window. However, that has not been the answer to them winning this year’s UEFA Champions League, with the FA Cup the only competition they can win.
The Premier League champions will not defend their crown either, although they have a decent chance of winning the FA Cup. Meanwhile, Ederson’s performance in the defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League came under fire from some pundits and fans, with some questioning whether he is good enough to start regularly for Pep Guardiola’s side anymore. In truth, the Brazilian international has been blowing hot and cold for a while.
In addition, Ederson is a target for the Saudi Pro League for a second successive summer, and a departure might be on the cards. With that in mind, we’ll take you through three goalkeepers that Manchester City could target this summer.
Bart Verbruggen
There can always be a risk when signing players from outside of the Premier League, as there will be some concerns as to whether they can adjust to the demands of the English top flight. However, there would be no risk involved if Manchester City were to make their move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen.
The Dutchman has age on his side at 22, and he proven his quality in the Premier League during his ongoing stint with Brighton. Verbruggen is the first-choice shot-stopper for the Netherlands, and he certainly has a bright future ahead of him if the early stages of his senior career are anything to go by.
You would imagine that it would take a sizeable fee to lure him away from Brighton, who should ideally be eager to keep hold of their goalkeeper. Nevertheless, the Dutch stopper will be the ideal fit for Manchester City, who often play a similar possession-based style of football to that employed at Brighton.
Verbruggen has shown he is comfortable on the ball, which is perfect for the system that Pep Guardiola operates his team with. However, City will face competition for the youngster’s signature, with recent reports linking him with Chelsea and Manchester City.
Lucas Chevalier
Chevalier should be one of Manchester City’s top transfer targets this summer if they are looking to add a goalkeeper to their ranks. While signing someone from the Premier League would be ideal, the young Frenchman has the traits to settle down at the Etihad as Ederson’s successor.
Lucas Chevalier fits this description perfectly, as not only is he only 23 years old, but he also has a
considerable amount of experience of playing at a high level in senior football. The French shot-stopper broke through the youth ranks at Lille, and he is now their first choice goalkeeper.
The 23-year-old has certainly not let Les Dogues down either, and he has gone on to impress in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League. He has kept 12 clean sheets so far in the 2024/25 season, and he has praised for his strong showing against Real Madrid earlier this season.
However, as was the case with Bart Verbruggen, Chevalier is highly sought-after in the market, with recent reports linking him with Manchester United, Newcastle United, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. So, the competition for his signature will be fierce.
Unai Simon
The Spaniard is currently plying his trade with Athletic Club, which has been the case since 2021. Simon has made 209 appearances for the Basque outfit, and he has caught the eye with plenty of strong performances over the years.
The Spaniard is also the current first-choice goalkeeper for La Roja, and he has made 46 appearances for their senior side since making his debut back in November 2020. He was between the sticks as Spain won the UEFA Euro 2024 title last summer.
The Spanish international still at his peak at the age of 27, and it will be interesting to see whether Manchester City could lure him away from Athletic Club, especially considering he is contracted with the Basque outfit until the summer of 2029.
However, the prospect of playing in the Premier League with a fresh start could potentially tempt the shot-stopper, who has spent his whole career to date in Spain.
