Man City’s Ederson to be costliest keeper ever

Ed erson’ s move to Manchester City inched closer yesterday withBen fica announcing they had “reached an agreement” over a £ 35million deal.

The 23-year-old, pictured, who has yet to win a senior cap for Brazil, reportedly under went a medical with City on Tuesday and would become the game’s most expensive goalkeeper, edgingGianluigi Buffon’ s switch to Juventus.

Ben fica said in a statement to the stock exchange “it has reached an agree - ment with Manchester City Football Club Limited for the definitive transfer of the rights of the athlete Ed er son Santana de Moraes for the amount of forty million euros ”. But City do not expect to be in a position to rubber- stamp the deal imminently.

Ederson’s deal with Benfica involves third-party ownership of his economic rights, with previous club Rio Ave thought to hold a 50 per cent stake, and that must be resolved before he formally joins City.

Football Association rules do not allow for any third party involvemen t , meani n g Benfi ca must take care of business independently before tying up loose ends with City.

Ederson’s expected arrival at the E ti had Stadium essentially confirms England number one Joe Hart has no chance of a reprieve after his season- long loan at Torino, while his original replacement, Claudio Bravo, has failed to live up to expectations.

Meanwhile, Yaya Toure has signed a one-year contract at City, keeping the midfielder at the English club for an eighth season.

Toure’ s future at City looked bleak at the start of this season, when he was ostracised by PepGuardiolabe cause the coach wasunhappy at Toure’ s fitness levels and also the criticism coming from the player’s outspoken agent, Dimitri Seluk.

City’s 20- year- old Turkey international, Enes Unal, who has never played a competitive game for the club, has joined Villarre - al on a five-year deal. City have a buy-back clause until 2020.