Manchester City set for new second-choice goalkeeper next season, reveals manager

Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has revealed that Manchester City are set for a change of goalkeeper next season.

The Premier League champions currently have a strong selection of goalkeepers at the disposal of manager Pep Guardiola, with Brazilian international Ederson Moraes having held down the first-choice role since joining the club in 2017.

Acting as back-up to the former Benfica stopper is now summer arrival Stefan Ortega Moreno – who arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Arminia Bielefeld on a free transfer, following a hugely impressive campaign in the Bundesliga.

Scott Carson acts as third choice to the aforementioned duo, with the English football icon playing an instrumental role in holding down the camaraderie within the goalkeeping union at Manchester City.

However, new comments from Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt would suggest that next summer could see a significant change in that ranking, with on-loan goalkeeper James Trafford returning to the club for the 2023/24 season.

Evatt has admitted during recent comments that the League One club will be forced into entering the transfer market for a new goalkeeper, with Trafford set to return to Manchester City after impressive spells out on loan.

As relayed by The Bolton News, Ian Evatt has said, “We know in the goalkeeping department that we can’t guarantee we will get James (Trafford) again next season. We don’t know what division we are going to be in, number one.”

He continued, “But we also don’t know what Manchester City’s plans are, although I understand that next season James will be number two at Manchester City, so we have plans in place to recruit and sign a new goalkeeper in the next window.”

A return for James Trafford to the Etihad Stadium would suggest that one of City’s current trio of goalkeepers is set for an exit from the club, although the most likely scenario is that Scott Carson takes on a coaching role within the organisation.

That would then likely see Stefan Ortega move to third choice, Ederson retain his number one slot, and James Trafford come in as back-up and feature in cup competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side.

However, the possibility of an exit for the likes of Ederson or Stefan Ortega should not be entirely ruled out, with the German stopper in particular impressing to a level where he may be seeking more regular game time at the very top level of the game.