While all expectations were for Gianluigi Donnarumma to move to Manchester United, Manchester City entered into negotiations with the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper this summer.
Donnarumma was completely excluded from PSG’s plans after contract renewal negotiations faltered, which was followed by the French club signing goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and then excluding the Italian from the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Donnarumma and has informed City’s management of his desire to sign the Italian goalkeeper. Indeed, negotiations between the English club and Paris Saint-Germain have begun in the past few hours.
Initially, the French club’s officials are demanding €50 million to agree to the sale of Donnarumma, a price Manchester City considers excessive, given the player’s sporting status and the fact that his contract expires in one year.
Overall, there is one scenario that would make City push harder to sign Donnarumma: Ederson leaving the Etihad Stadium. The Brazilian goalkeeper is currently in advanced negotiations with Turkish side Galatasaray.
Manchester City signed James Trafford from Burnley for €27 million, and the Englishman was seen as Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper next season, especially since Ederson and Stefan Ortega were told to look elsewhere.
But Guardiola ultimately sees the need for another strong goalkeeper, and Donnarumma, after his miraculous season with Paris Saint-Germain, appears to be the ideal choice, despite the potential rift between Trafford and City, given that the goalkeeper has been promised a regular start next season.
