Manchester City and Bayern Munich make approaches for AC Milan goalkeeper as agent received clear instructions | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City reportedly showed interest in AC Milan’s Mike Maignan in recent months due to uncertainties over the future of Ederson.

The Brazil international goalkeeper was heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League during the last summer transfer window, having opened himself up to the opportunity and leaving negotiations in the hands of Manchester City officials.

The Premier League champions were unwilling to stand in the way of Ederson’s desires, providing that any potential suitor from the Middle-East – of which there were two clubs – met the valuation outlined by City, which was believed to be in the region of £50 million.

However, despite the millions available through the finances in Saudi Arabia, no such club was able to sanction a proposal that satisfied negotiators at the Etihad Stadium, meaning Ederson was kept within the City first-team squad for another campaign.

But doubts over his longer-term intentions and concerns over whether Stefan Ortega continues to be satisfied in his role as back-up have left City scouring the market for potential goalkeeping talent across the continent.

And according to the information of Italian newspaper Calciomercato, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, City have looked at a few options in recent markets, including AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.

Maignan’s current deal runs until 2026, with the Serie A giants working on a renewal amid Bayern Munich reportedly viewing the Frenchman as a long-term successor to Manuel Neuer and Manchester City having doubts about the future of Ederson amid Saudi Arabian advances.

The report claims that both clubs made an approach for Mike Maignan in ‘recent months’, without making any further progress as the shot-stopper ‘wasn’t tempted’ by Pep Guardiola’s side or Bayern Munich, informing his agent not to proceed with either club.

Pep Guardiola has remained hugely complimentary of his two leading goalkeeper options at the club this season, enabling him to rest and rotate between the sticks without sacrificing quality in goal for the club.

The Manchester City manager believes the competition between the two men for the leading role can only be a healthy factor for the club, as he explained during a recent press conference, “I think Stefan, for me, is one of the best I’ve ever seen one-against-one, these kind of actions.

“I think working with him, I’m pretty sure that Ederson can get it,” Guardiola said. “Ederson is important. But always I had the feeling Stefan is exceptional.

“Sometimes Ederson has to feel you have to perform well, otherwise Stefan can play! This healthy competition, because they respect/have an incredible relation, makes us better.”

Stefan Ortega’s performances for Manchester City so far this season, coinciding with problems among other goalkeepers, resulted in his first senior call-up to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany national side this month.