Manchester City could be set for a summer goalkeeper search as second-choice stopper Stefan Ortega hinted at a transfer at the end of the season.
Ortega expressed frustration last summer at his back-up role and made it clear he was considering an exit in search of regular football. But he was instead persuaded to stay at the Etihad and signed a new City contract until 2026, vowing to fight to become number one ahead of Ederson - despite Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain making it clear he was still behind the Brazilian.
Begiristain even said he was the 'best number two' the club has ever had, and Ortega has mostly been second to Ederson this season. He has, however, had ten Premier League appearances including two spells where he was picked on performance rather than just injury to Ederson.
But despite the breakthrough of sorts, Ortega has told German media he is reconsidering his future and did not rule out a summer exit. He was speaking on international duty having broken into the Germany squad this season at the age of 32.
“I think I’ve played a considerable number of games since I’ve been there," he said in comments relayed by Kicker. “Sometimes things happen very quickly. I can’t yet say what will happen in the summer. Anything is possible. We know the world of football; things can happen very quickly sometimes."
With Ederson's future far from guaranteed after his own flirting with a transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer, and Scott Carson's one-year contract up at the end of the season, Ortega's admission could throw City into a summer search for a new goalkeeping department. Unless Ederson was to leave and open the door to the number one shirt for Ortega.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in the summer,
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