Man City poised to land stat-king goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on free transfer

Manchester City are set to sign Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega as back-up for Ederson, claims a report in Germany.

The 29-year-old was the Bundesliga club’s No.1 last season, playing 33 times in the league.

He only managed six clean sheets for the relegated side and he has left his contract run down. Despite conceding 53 goals Ortega had an impressive season and only Yann Somer made more saves than his tally of 128.

Kicker have reported that Ortega is set to sign for Manchester City on a free transfer. And Pep Guardiola is understood to be ready to make the German keeper his No.2 behind Ederson.

Ortega rose through the youth ranks at Bielefeld and broke into the first team before joining 1860 München in 2014.

He then returned to Bielefeld in 2017 and has spent the last five seasons in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ortega’s arrival could well spell bad news for keeper Zack Steffen.

The American was Ederson’s back-up last season, with Scott Carson third choice. Carson, 36, remains under contrcat until 2023 as he winds down his career, but Steffen needs games ahead of the World Cup.

Steffen played just once in the Premier League last season and he blotted his copybook in the FA Cup semi-final. Steffen had a torrid afternoon gifting Sadio Mane a second goal in the 3-2 defeat.

It was a performance that was defended by Pep Guardiola, but in truth it cost City dearly.

Steffen could make way for Ortega

Gavin Bazunu has already left City for Southampton this summer and Steffen may follow if he has any chance of forcing his way into Gregg Berhalter’s World Cup plans.

Bazunu signed for Saints on a five-year deal earlier this week for a fee reported to be around £12m.

Ortega looks like a shrewd piece of business for Pep Guardiola and the player is highly regarded in Germany.

He “single-handedly kept the club alive in countless contests” last season, according to Bulinews. 

He is a keeper who has displayed calmness and managed an impressive 73.7% save percentage for the relegated side.

And the source suggest “one lucky team is about to get a force at the back”.