Manchester City round-up: Deal for goalkeeper close; Toure rewarded with new contract; West Ham target striker

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According to reports on BBC Sport over the past day, Manchester City are edging closer to securing a deal for Benfica goalkeeper Ederson Moraes as their second signing of the summer.

It is believed that a £33 million fee is being agreed between the two clubs, an amount that would make him the second-most expensive goalkeeper in history behind Juventus man Gianluigi Buffon.

The 23-year-old has impressed this season as Benfica won a league and cup double, announcing after their Portuguese Cup final win on Sunday that it was “probably” going to be his final match at the club.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has wasted no time since the Premier League season finished, releasing five players as well as signing Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva for £43 million last week.

Moraes would provide the answer to City’s goalkeeping concerns, with Willy Caballero released last week, Claudio Bravo struggling for form in the English top-flight and Joe Hart expected to leave imminently.

Meanwhile, The Times have revealed that City’s veteran midfielder Yaya Toure is coming close to agreeing a deal with the club to stay at the Etihad Stadium for an eighth season.

The report claims that the Ivorian – who played an integral part in Manchester City’s late dash to the top-four – will be offered a new one-year-deal after a string of impressive displays in the latter part of the year.

Yet this deal would see Toure take a significant pay-cut in order to remain in the Premier League, reducing his weekly wage to well below the £100,000-per-week that he currently earns.

The offer of a contract extension would represent a monumental turnaround from the beginning of the season, where a falling out between Toure and Guardiola left him out the team until November.

Since making his first appearance on November 19, the 33-year-old has made 25 appearances and scored five times to help his side secure Champions League football for next season.

In other news, Manchester City’s Premier League rivals West Ham are reportedly lining up a bid for young forward Kelechi Iheanacho ahead of a potential move to London Stadium next season.

The Sun claim that the Hammers have made a formal offer of £20 million for the 20-year-old Nigerian, getting in first ahead of both West Brom and Everton – two sides who are also allegedly interested.

The report also suggests that Slaven Bilic’s side are prepared to double Iheanacho’s current wage at the Etihad Stadium of £35,000-per-week in order to secure the striker’s services for the next season.

The 20-year-old has only managed five starts for City this season since the arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January, scoring four times, and it’s believed that he’s seeking a move away for more regular football.

Iheanacho would join Pablo Zabaleta as the second player from the Citizens to join West Ham in the past week should a move go through, with the 32-year-old defender leaving the club after nine years of service.

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