Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City need to prioritise a new goalkeeper in the summer, claiming current number one Ederson is no longer at the level required.
Ederson has been one of City’s most consistent performances since signing for £35million from Benfica in 2017 and has rarely missed a game for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Brazillian is now into his eighth season at the club but errors have slowly started to creep into the 31-year-old’s game.
Ederson was dropped for three games in early December after City went eight games without a win in all competitions but has since wrestled back the starting position from Stefan Ortega.
However, his performance in City’s dramatic 3-2 loss against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday brought old issues back to a head.
Leading 2-1 with four minutes of normal time remaining, Ederson’s poor kick and disappointing save allowed Brahim Diaz to smash home a late equaliser.
And in the second minute of added time, the Brazillian stormed off his line but was caught out of position, allowing Jude Bellingham to tap home Vinicius Junior’s attempted to lob.
City held firm when Ederson was the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia last summer, but Carragher now believes the time is right to move the experienced shotstopper on.
‘We’re at the stage now that Manchester City need a new goalkeeper,’ the former Liverpool defender told CBS Sports.
‘Ederson has been fantastic for Man City with the ball but in terms of being a goalkeeper he’s cost them tonight and they need him because he’s a really senior figure.
‘He’s been there, he’s done it and he’s won all the leagues and the Champions Leagues and this has been going on too long with him.
‘That’s nowhere near enough at this level of football – he’s cost his team the game there.’
Despite his errors, Guardiola came to Ederson’s defence after the game, suggesting that his goalkeeper had been his side’s ‘best player’ on the night.
‘Eddy decided to play a long ball, it was not a good kick and they scored,’ he added.
‘Maybe we played short and they scored and you say play long.
‘Players take a decision in the moment – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but it’s not today, it has happened many times.
‘Reflect and think and maybe in the future it will not happen and be brave for the next games.’
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