Manchester City Eye Donnarumma and Ter Stegen as Ederson's Future Hangs in the Balance

Manchester City Brace for Goalkeeper Shake-Up

The summer transfer window is shaping up to be a real test for Manchester City’s planning department. The club has enjoyed years of stability with Ederson between the posts, but now things are looking shaky. The Brazilian, who helped define City’s modern era with his sweeper-keeper style, seems to be edging closer to an exit. Rumors about a move to the Saudi Pro League have only intensified, and City’s top brass don’t look keen to stand in his way—if the right offer arrives.

This leaves City with a massive decision. Finding a new first-choice keeper is never simple, especially for a team that plays as aggressively from the back as Pep Guardiola demands. City can’t just pick up any old shot-stopper. They need someone cool, confident on the ball, and experienced at the highest levels. That brings us to the two names everyone’s talking about: Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marc-André ter Stegen.

Donnarumma or Ter Stegen: Who Fits Guardiola’s Blueprint?

Manchester City have been scouting Gianluigi Donnarumma closely, and it’s not hard to see why. At just 25, Donnarumma has logged more top-flight minutes than some players dream of in a lifetime. He’s been Italy’s number one, landed a Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2020, and played Champions League football with both AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. What really interests City is his ability to sweep up danger outside the box, launch counterattacks, and handle the pressure of a massive club. Pep values that—he doesn’t want a sitting duck on the goal line.

Donnarumma’s position at PSG isn’t as secure as some might think. There’s a feeling in Paris that the Italian could be moved on if the right offer comes in, especially since PSG themselves might be refreshing their squad. His contract still has two years left, but the City project could be a real draw for someone looking to play the way Guardiola likes.

Then there’s Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona’s stalwart, who’s a bit older at 32 but far from past it. His shot-stopping is top notch, and as for passing—he’s been building out from the back with Barca for years, facing relentless La Liga pressing and high-stress Champions League nights. Barcelona’s ongoing financial mess means almost anyone in their squad is potentially for sale, and ter Stegen could be prised away if the price is right. The added twist: other big clubs like Chelsea and PSG are circling too.

There’s serious upside with ter Stegen—he already knows what it’s like to be a club’s last line of defense with a huge fanbase and giant expectations. If Guardiola wants reliability, this German has shown it in spades.

City aren’t only looking at the A-listers, though. Diogo Costa at FC Porto has been on their radar for a while. He might not have Donnarumma’s reputation or ter Stegen’s experience, but he’s a modern goalkeeper with agility and composure. Joan García from Espanyol, a just-emerging talent with a reasonable release clause, is another wild card. And don’t overlook James Trafford, who came through City’s own academy before moving to Burnley; his string of clean sheets in the Championship has turned a few heads back at the Etihad.

The subplot to all this goalkeeper drama is the situation with Stefan Ortega, City’s back-up. He could end up at Bayer Leverkusen, so the club may wind up needing not just a new first-choice keeper, but a solid reserve, too.

No matter which way you look at it, City’s next move will set the tone for the season—maybe even for years ahead. With Ederson’s days at the club clearly numbered unless something radical changes, the blue half of Manchester is about to find out just how important having the right man in goal really is.