Manchester City have moved closer to signing Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, with negotiations between the two clubs understood to be progressing positively.
The latest development was reported by renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, who says the English and French sides are increasingly close to reaching an agreement for the Argentina international.
No deal has yet been confirmed, but discussions have advanced and Manchester City are continuing to work on a transfer for the Marseille goalkeeper. The talks centre on a proposed move that would see Rulli join the Premier League club as part of a change to their goalkeeping options.
Manchester City are reportedly offering €2m for Rulli. The 33-year-old is being considered as a replacement for James Trafford, who is set to continue his career at Leeds.
Trafford’s departure would create a vacancy within Manchester City’s goalkeeping group, although Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to remain the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Rulli would therefore be brought in as an alternative option rather than to challenge Donnarumma for the number one position.
Rulli remains under contract with Marseille until 2027. His current market value is estimated at €6m, meaning Manchester City’s reported proposal is below that figure. The difference between the offer and the valuation is part of the background to negotiations that are now moving forward.
The goalkeeper’s existing commitment to Marseille gives the French club a contract position from which to negotiate, while Manchester City are seeking to complete the signing for a reported €2m fee. Despite the gap between the figures, the two clubs are said to be getting closer to an agreement.
Rulli’s potential arrival would mark the latest change in Manchester City’s goalkeeping department, with Trafford moving on to Leeds and Donnarumma continuing as the leading goalkeeper. The proposed transfer is not yet complete, but the progress in talks has raised the prospect of Rulli joining the Premier League side.
For now, the negotiations remain ongoing. Fabrizio Romano’s report indicates that both Manchester City and Marseille are making progress towards a deal, with the clubs closer to an agreement than they were previously.
The final terms have not been disclosed, and Manchester City have not confirmed the transfer. Rulli’s contract with Marseille still runs for another year beyond the immediate campaign, while his estimated value stands at €6m. However, the reported €2m offer has placed the deal on the agenda as Manchester City plan for life after James Trafford and retain Gianluigi Donnarumma as their first-choice goalkeeper.
