Marius Șumudică has revealed that Edvinas Gertmonas, the goalkeeper from U Cluj, is close to signing with Gaziantep, coached by Mirel Rădoi. Gaziantep is preparing for the new season, and Rădoi, 45, is looking to strengthen his squad to avoid repeating the disastrous start of his previous tenure (four consecutive failures). Șumudică, a former Gaziantep coach, confirmed that Gertmonas is in advanced negotiations with the Turkish club and that the transfer funds need to be secured.

In the crucial Superliga match between Universitatea Craiova and U Cluj, ending 5-0, Gertmonas, 29, was an unused substitute. Turkish media reported that the Lithuanian goalkeeper is desired by Rădoi at Gaziantep, and the rumors were confirmed by Șumudică.

Gertmonas had an excellent season with U Cluj, keeping 12 clean sheets in 24 matches and conceding only 17 goals. With an average of 2.88 saves per game, he won the Helmuth Duckadam trophy as the best goalkeeper of the 2025/2026 season from Digi Sport. He joined U Cluj in 2024 after stints with Tauras, Rennes, Atlantas, and Zalgiris. Transfermarkt values him at 1.4 million euros, and he has 25 caps for the Lithuanian national team.

The goalkeeper, who conceded 63 goals and kept 30 clean sheets in 74 appearances for U Cluj, was notably absent from the decisive match. Gertmonas was not selected to play in the match where the team conceded five goals in 90 minutes.

Florin Prunea of Digi Sport expressed his surprise at Gertmonas's absence, questioning the logic behind leaving the season's best goalkeeper on the bench during the championship finale.