​Manchester City have allegedly shook on a "gentlemen's agreement" to sign Benfica's in-demand goalkeeper Ederson in the summer.





Portuguese newspaper Record (via ​Sport Witness) has claimed that the 23-year-old will join Pep Guardiola's revolution at the Etihad once the 2016/17 season ends, and the Premier League outfit will likely part with the £43.6m fee required to release Ederson from his contract.





The report stipulates that other European clubs remain in the hunt to sign Ederson, but it is City who are considered to be the "most likely destination" for the promising shot stopper.

Saturday's game with Paços should be Ederson's 50th game for Benfica. So far he has kept 27 clean sheets in 49 games, conceding 35 goals. — David Pritchett (@dpritchett_SLB) March 16, 2017

Ederson is only on the cusp of reaching a landmark 50th appearance for Benfica, but his superb displays in goal for the Primeira Liga leaders have ensured that he is now one of the most coveted keepers across Europe.





Guardiola is desperate to add a new number one to his ranks ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, with both Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero failing to impress the Spaniard during his maiden season in charge in Manchester.





Bravo, a 2016 summer signing from Guardiola's former club Barcelona, has struggled in the Premier League and, thanks to a paltry six clean sheets in 27 appearances, lost his place to understudy Caballero recently.

Dream summer signings for City:

GK – Ederson

LB – Mendy

CB – Laporte

RB – Fabinho

CM – Weigl



Would be expensive but necessary. — Pepological (@Pepological) March 16, 2017

Caballero, though, has kept just seven shut outs in 17 outings this term and, with the 35-year-old's contract due to expire in three months' time, a new custodian between the sticks is high on Guardiola's list of priorities.





City have also been linked with a move for Sunderland's talented keeper Jordan Pickford, but it is Ederson's name who has jumped to the front of the queue and the Citizens will likely go all out to snap him up ahead of their competitors.





The Osasco-born player only broke into the first-team fold in 2015 and, after primarily being used as a cup-only keeper, made his league debut in the 1-0 victory over bitter rivals Sporting. Since then, Ederson hasn't looked back and has amassed 49 appearances since March 9 - a run that has seen him miss just six league encounters in the past 12 months.



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