Manchester City are set to snap up Scott Carson on a free transfer after the goalkeeper was released by Derby County.
Carson, 35, has spent the last two years on loan at the Etihad from the Championship club and has become an invaluable member of the squad. Pep Guardiola likened him to a captain of the dressing room last season and gave him his first Premier League start in 10 years in the match at Newcastle immediately after the Blues had been confirmed as champions.
"Maybe people don't know it but he's a real leader for us," said Guardiola.
"He says straight away what he believes, he has a lot of experience, he has been in incredible locker rooms with big teams. "He is an incredible person and we are delighted - not just me but Eddy (Ederson) and Zack [Steffen] and the players that today he could play."
As well as being a reliable No.3, the veteran stopper has also helped to integrate young goalkeeper and fellow Cumbrian James Trafford into the first-team squad; the 18-year-old is set to leave on loan this summer for first-team experience.
Signing Carson will box off the goalkeeping department for the Blues, with Ederson and Steffen also continuing their roles from last season. The club are pressing on with their priority of a No.9 as well as looking at other positions in a window where a number of players are also expected to leave as Guardiola shakes up his first-team squad.
