Manchester City are on the verge of securing a deal for Ederson Moraes after Pep Guardiola spoke with the Benfica goalkeeper on the phone, according to reports in Portugal.
A Bola claim that Guardiola told the 23-year-old that he is City’s priority transfer target ahead of the summer transfer window and that he’s a huge admirer of his ability.
The City boss, who also spoke with Gabriel Jesus on the phone before the Brazilian’s £27 million transfer, is said to have informed Ederson that the transfer is close to being completed.
The report claims that City remain in talks with Benfica, who will sell the Brazilian for a fee in the region of €35m to €40m (£30m to £34.6m), although Rio Ave will receive half of the fee as they own 50% of his economic rights.
Guardiola is in the market for a new goalkeeper due to Claudio Bravo’s poor performances since his arrival from Barcelona last summer.
City have been using Willy Caballero as their first choice in the Premier League since the start of December, while Bravo has been only used for FA Cup fixtures.
Joe Hart, who has spent the season on loan at Torino, has already admitted that he will look to permanently leave City this summer.
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