Ederson’s future at Man City uncertain – Guardiola

NORTH CAROLINA, United States, July 24 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he cannot be sure Ederson will stay at the club this summer.

The Brazilian goalkeeper is of interest to the Saudi Pro League.

Guardiola said at the end of last season that he still considered Ederson as his first-choice goalkeeper, even though he had selected reserve Stefan Ortega for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

After his team’s 4-3 defeat to Celtic in North Carolina, Guardiola said: “I would like him to stay, but it depends on other clubs.

“I don’t know the situation. There has been no contact in the last few days. It’s a matter of training, staying with us until the transfer period is over and then we’ll see.”

Ederson came on at half-time during City’s defeat to Celtic at Chapel Hill, the Premier League champions’ opening pre-season match.

With Ederson’s future uncertain, it looks set to see Kalvin Phillips leave City – most likely on loan – before the transfer window closes on August 30.

Phillips endured a terrible spell at West Ham in the second half of last season, dashing his hopes of a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.

He was substituted at half-time against Celtic, although Guardiola indicated this was to protect him after he missed the end of last season through injury.

“That’s why we didn’t give him more minutes,” Guardiola said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. He knows the situation, and we’ll see.”

Haaland captains City in defeat to Celtic

Erling Haaland was handed the City captain’s armband for the first time as Guardiola incorporated a mix of youth and experience into his starting line-up.

City’s team, which featured six youth players alongside the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish and Stefan Ortega, fell behind to a goal from Nicolas Kuhn, but Norway international Oscar Bobb equalised in the 33rd minute.

Celtic, playing their fourth pre-season friendly, went into half-time 3-1 up after Kuhn scored his second of the game and Kyogo Furuhashi netted.

City came back in the second half and scored a goal from Maximo Perrone within 60 seconds of the break to reduce the deficit.

Kasper Schmeichel, playing for Celtic for the first time since his move from Anderlecht, stopped Haaland three times.

But the 24-year-old Norwegian scored the equaliser just before the hour mark, heading in a cross from compatriot Bobb.

Celtic scored the winning goal in the 68th minute when Luis Palma, who had come on as a substitute three minutes earlier, scored from a counter-attack.

The Bhoys’ US tour continues on Saturday with a match against Chelsea in Indiana, while City take on AC Milan in New York.