Pep Guardiola hatches £63m transfer plan after Man City suffer fresh injury blow

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has picked up a recurrence of his groin injury and may not play again this season – and now Pep Guardiola is eyeing up back-up targets in between the sticks this summer

Manchester City will step up their interest in Porto keeper Diogo Costa following another injury set-back for current No 1 Ederson. Costa, 25, is seen as the perfect replacement for the Brazilian, who is facing a fight to play again this season after suffering a recurrence of the groin injury that has plagued him all year.

The Portuguese international has a £63million buy-out clause in a contract that still has two seasons left to run.

That is likely to be too rich for City, but incoming director of football has a strong relationship with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes – and the Blues believe that an offer of around £50million could be enough.

Costa fits Pep Guardiola ’s profile perfectly, with the same kind of passing range that has made Ederson such a key player at the Etihad in the eight years since he arrived from Benfica for £35million.

He has won two Portuguese titles with Porto after joining the club’s academy as an 11 year old. Manchester United are also big admirers – but don’t have the finances to trigger the buy-out clause or challenge their rivals in the race for Costa’s signature.

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Ederson, 31, has been one of Guardiola’s most important signings, winning six Premier League titles and three Golden Gloves awards.

He produced a string of outstanding saves as City beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final to clinch the Treble two years ago.

The Brazilian international, who had strong interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, produced his fourth assist of the season last weekend when his long-range pass set up a goal for James McAtee in the 5-2 win over Crystal Palace.

Ederson now has more assists than any goalkeeper in Premier League history. But he later limped off after pulling a groin muscle and has been sidelined for the fourth separate time this season.

City expect renewed interest from the Middle East, but they also know that Bayern Leverkusen are targeting back-up keeper Stefan Ortega.

When asked about Ederson’s injury ahead of their game against Everton, Guardiola was vague and couldn’t give an update – only confirming he wouldn’t play. “[He’s] not ready for tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t know [when he will be available]. For the game he is not ready.”

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