Pep Guardiola admits Ederson saga could drag on following fresh Fenerbahce interest | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has addressed the uncertainty around personnel in various areas of his squad ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.

City are expected to have a busy 48 hours to end a whirlwind transfer window that has witnessed a series of notable departures, high-profile loans and the arrival of five first-team signings to bolster Guardiola’s options after a miserable 2024-25 campaign.

Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Stefan Ortega Moreno and Kalvin Phillips could all leave the club in the final days of the window, which could force Manchester City’s hand to make other arrangements before the 7PM (UK) deadline on September 1.

Ortega Moreno and Phillips are the likelier pair from the aforementioned quartet to leave, having been deemed surplus to requirements. Phillips has returned from an unsuccessful loan at Ipswich Town and has no future at the Etihad Stadium.

Akanji has several options at his disposal should he choose to leave Manchester City, who are open to selling the 30-year-old defender. Meanwhile, Ederson is into the final year of his Manchester City contract and after eight seasons in England, the 31-year-old is keen on a new challenge amid interest from Turkish duo Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

The Brazil international is not believed to have handed in an official transfer request and remains a popular figure amongst Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff, who have a difficult decision on their hands with regards to selection ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.

Summer signing James Trafford committed an error directly leading a goal conceded against Tottenham last week, with Guardiola refusing to rule out Ederson starting in net at the Amex Stadium when quizzed about the goalkeeping situation at City.

Manchester City have lined up Paris Saint-Germain wantaway Gianluigi Donnarumma as an ideal replacement for Ederson – but sources at the Etihad Stadium have maintained that a move for Donnarumma will progress if and only if Ederson completes his desired transfer to Turkey.

Speaking on the consequences of the distraction caused by the transfer window on his squad ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Brighton, Guardiola said: “For the fact it will be clear, the mood, the vibe for the players and uncertainties for some, it could be better.”

The 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last week is believed to have served a timely reminder in the boardroom that there remains work to be done to improve Guardiola’s squad, which has already witnessed the additions of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Sverre Nypan (on loan at Middlesbrough) and Trafford.

“But on Monday (deadline day), it will happen, or maybe the transfer window in Turkey or Saudi (Arabia) is a little longer,” Guardiola added, which means it could be a few more weeks before a resolution is reached on the saga involving Ederson and a potential move to Turkey.

“I’m focused on the Manchester City players I have, to treat them like we treat them, I cannot ever, ever have a complaint about how the club takes care of them, never ever.”