Man City set to complete surprise transfer after goalkeeper exit confirmed
Scott Carson has left Manchester City after six years at the Etihad but the club are already close to signing his replacement.
Manchester City are set to wrap up a deal for Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli before Tuesday's transfer deadline as they close in on a replacement for Scott Carson.
The 33-year-old has one year remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge, so City are likely to have to pay a nominal fee to bring him to the Etihad, but there is confidence a deal will be concluded before tomorrow's 7pm deadline day.
That will allow Bettinelli to be registered in time for the Club World Cup, and the former Fulham goalkeeper will take Carson's spot in the squad as third-choice goalkeeper.
Bettinelli has played just once for Chelsea in four seasons at the club, featuring in an FA Cup win against Chesterfield in 2022. However, he did make 120 appearances for Fulham earlier in his career and was included in an England squad by Gareth Southgate in September 2018, but he never won a cap.
He has also enjoyed productive loan spells at Accrington Stanley in League Two and Middlesbrough in the Championship. Bettinelli has been praised for his work behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, fulfilling that vital third-choice goalkeeper role and forming a strong bond with the other goalkeepers at the club.
The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13.
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But Chelsea have accumulated plenty of goalkeepers in recent years, and he has dropped down the pecking order at the club as a result. A move to the Etihad will see him play the role of understudy to Ederson and Stefan Ortega.
Bettinelli will also have a key role to play in keeping morale high, both among the goalkeeping group and the rest of the squad, with Carson proving a popular figure off the pitch during his time at the club.
London-born Bettinelli is also considered home-grown, so will be a natural replacement for Carson in occupying one of those eight squad positions under Premier League and UEFA rules.
The move for the goalkeeper means City are set to complete four transfers before the June 10 deadline, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki also signing in time to feature in the Club World Cup.
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