Pep Guardiola's confirmation last week that Ederson and Stefan Ortega would remain at the Etihad Stadium this summer has not prevented Manchester City from seeking additional goalkeeping cover following Scott Carson's confirmed exit.
The Telegraph reports that City have identified Chelsea's third-choice keeper Marcus Bettinelli as their primary target, with the 33-year-old entering the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract.
Sources suggest the experienced goalkeeper fits the exact profile City require to complement their established duo of Ederson and Ortega. The club remains optimistic about securing the deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline, particularly with the FIFA Club World Cup approaching later this month.
Any potential fee for Bettinelli would represent modest outlay compared to City's marquee summer acquisitions of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. The first two players have already completed their medical examinations, with official announcements expected imminently.
Bettinelli's Chelsea tenure spans four seasons, during which he has featured just once for the first team - completing 90 minutes in their 5-1 FA Cup third-round victory against Chesterfield at home in August 2022. Despite limited match action, coaching staff have consistently praised his training ground influence and mentoring capabilities with younger teammates.
The former Fulham goalkeeper's homegrown status provides additional appeal for City's squad registration requirements across both Premier League and Champions League competitions next season. His career path included loan spells at Dartford, Accrington Stanley and Middlesbrough before establishing himself in the top flight.
International recognition came in 2018 when then-England manager Gareth Southgate included Bettinelli in his senior squad, though he never earned his first cap for the national team.
City's pursuit of additional goalkeeping depth demonstrates Guardiola's methodical approach to squad building, ensuring comprehensive cover across all positions as they prepare for another demanding campaign across multiple competitions.