Manchester City, the club that has dominated the Premier League in recent years, is enduring an uncharacteristic season in which everything seems to be going wrong. They have been eliminated from the Champions League and appear unable to win against Big Six teams. Far from the usual dominance they have displayed in England, Pep Guardiola’s team has struggled in head-to-head encounters against the league’s top rivals, with a poor record of two wins, one draw, and five defeats.
Out of the Champions League and the League Cup
As mentioned, Manchester City has been knocked out of the Champions League. Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals after winning the tie 6-3 on aggregate against Guardiola’s side. In the first leg at the Etihad, Carlo Ancelotti’s team came from behind twice, responding to Haaland’s goals with Mbappé and Brahim Díaz’s equalizers, before Bellingham struck late to make it 2-3.
With that advantage, Real Madrid arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu, where an outstanding Mbappé scored a hat-trick, leaving the Sky Blues with no chance.
Additionally, in the League Cup, the ‘Citizens’ also suffered an early exit, losing in the round of sixteen to Tottenham. With the Premier League title practically out of reach, the FA Cup now remains City’s only realistic chance of lifting a trophy this season.
Goalkeeping Problems for Manchester City
City has lost 14 of their last 27 matches across all competitions and eight of their last 17 in the Premier League. Their poor form is unprecedented since Guardiola took charge in 2016.
One of the biggest issues has been Ederson’s underwhelming performances this season, leading Manchester City to search for a new first-choice goalkeeper for next season.
For instance, in the match against Real Madrid at the Etihad, Ederson made four key saves, including a crucial one-on-one stop against Bellingham. However, on the other side of the coin, he also conceded three goals and was directly responsible for the 2-2 equalizer. Bellingham intercepted a poor and rushed clearance from the former Benfica player, which allowed Brahim Díaz to level the match in the 86th minute.
Ederson’s Replacement Identified in Porto
Although Ederson has been one of the world’s top goalkeepers, he is no longer at his peak, prompting Guardiola to look at several La Liga goalkeepers as potential replacements: Álex Remiro, Unai Simón, and Andriy Lunin. Of the three, Remiro was highly rated due to his shot-stopping ability and excellent footwork. However, in the end, Manchester City’s final choice came from outside La Liga.
Pep Guardiola has personally requested the signing of Diogo Costa, the current Porto goalkeeper, as Ederson’s successor. According to multiple reports, Manchester City has already initiated talks to assess the feasibility of signing the Portuguese shot-stopper, who has established himself both at club level and in the national team.
Costa is under contract until 2027, making his transfer a complex negotiation. However, given that City spent over €200 million in the winter transfer window, there should be no financial obstacles in securing his services. The transfer fee is expected to be around €40 million, meaning the biggest challenge will likely be accommodating Ederson’s departure and salary rather than the actual cost of the new signing.