By Joe Ellis

27th Mar, 2022 | 1:49pm

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola has to give Gavin Bazunu first team chance next season

Manchester City might have one of the world’s best goalkeepers right now but they could have someone with an even higher ceiling waiting for his chance.

Brazilian international Ederson Moraes has been the undisputed number one at the Etihad ever since he joined from Portuguese club Benfica in 2017 and no one has really come close to challenging him either.

Pep Guardiola has full faith in his shot-stopper and it is a very envious position to be in for many of the Premier League’s other managers.

But there is a superstar youngster emerging through the ranks at Man City who could well be the successor to the 28-year-old if he ever leaves Manchester for pastures new.

Gavin Bazunu is enjoying another high-class season away from the Citizens on loan having helped League One side Portsmouth hold onto many points in their playoff push.

At 20 years of age, he is already a 10-time Republic of Ireland international and is passing every test that comes his way in flying colours.

Guardiola had been loaning 36-year-old Scott Carson since 2017 before the club bought him from Derby County last year to be the third-choice, last resort goalkeeper if Ederson and current backup Zack Steffen were both unavailable.

If the Spaniard trusts in Bazunu, there would be no need to keep Carson lurking around the club and even Steffen could be sold if funds become needed to complete other transfers.

The club have become a lot better at giving their homegrown talent a chance at senior level recently with Phil Foden leading the way and if Guardiola can take the leap of faith, Bazunu can be the next Citizens regular off the production line.

In other Manchester City news, Phil Foden is England’s best young player since Wayne Rooney.