The issue now becomes, with the transfer window already closed for English sides, how will we deal with the season ending injury to Claudio Bravo. The second choice goalkeeper for the Blues didn't have the best of first seasons with City. Last season though, with him out of the spotlight, he was massive in our journey towards the Carabao Cup progress and eventual trophy lift.
Joe Hart had only just put pen to paper with Burnley. The reality though is that he was never a Pep Guardiola style keeper and his time with the Blues had ran its course. Even if we could get him back, had he gone out on loan and we could recall him, I am not entirely sure we would.
So the question now faces Pep Guardiola exactly what to do in order to give Ederson some competition and, with hopefully a ton of games ahead of them, some matches off. So, what are our options moving forward?
Of course the Blues have immediately recalled on loan keeper Arijanet (Aro) Muric from NAC Breda. The Bravo injury left City with only Daniel Grimshaw as cover for Ederson. Although local, and a life long City supporter, he is yet to make a senior appearance.
Last season Bravo was deployed in the domestic cup competitions in the main. Obviously he came on for Ederson after the Brazilian was kicked in the head against Liverpool. It certainly would be a baptism of fire if Grimshaw was to have to come on for Ederson, but you never really know how someone might handle that step up until they make that step up.
There has also been rumors that Real Madrids Keylor Navas might be secured with an emergency loan. Navas could certainly provide Ederson with greater competition in between the sticks, but is that something which the player would be interested in? More importantly is that something which the governing body would sanction?
Certainly with the signing of Courtois from Chelsea recently, Navas has found himself down the pecking order at Madrid. At 31 years old it may represent his best opportunity to play outside of Spain while still at the top of his game. Unfortunately for City, Navas has only recently declared his willingness to stay and fight for his place. Of course what else would he say!
It seems that even if the Premier League do allow Manchester City to sign a keeper it may not be Navas. I think the Blues are half anticipating a stumbling block at some point, somewhere along the way, which is why they wasted no time in recalling Muric.
At 6ft 6 inches tall, the young Montenegrin stopper only recently had his first senior appearance. Between the sticks for one game, his side ran away 3-0 winners. It will be intersting to see how Manchester City move forwrd in the next few days and see if they put feelers out for a potential back up.
Worst case scanario I think Richard Wright could come out of retirement for a game or two....if not does anyone know what John Burridge is doing currently?
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