Manchester City have reportedly taken the lead over Manchester United in the chase for Gianluigi Donnarumma and are ready to offer £30 million for the prodigy.
Daily Mail are reporting that Manchester City are emerging as the front-runners in the chase to land AC Milan prodigy Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Citizens were reported to be locked in a battle with rivals Manchester United for the custodian.
However, it seems Pep Guardiola and his men are ready to step up the pursuit and take the lead in the transfer battle and, with reports that the club is ready to offer £30 million in order to land the Italian international.
The report comes days after it was revealed that Donnarumma could be available for as little as £20 million, with the Manchester clubs ready to sweat it out for the keeper who has been hailed as the true heir to Gianluigi Buffon.
Donnarumma has further established his newfound stardom this season, with brilliant performance in the Serie A for the Rossoneri. While the keeper has managed to keep just 11 clean sheets, he has only conceded 43 goals in 36 Serie A games this season, with some impressive displays to rescue his side.
AC Milan goalkeeper, Donnarumma has told friends he will be moving to England this summer. City is one of possible destinations. #m2 pic.twitter.com/lW2dmLoA8N
— MCFC Malaysia FC (@MCFC_Malaysia) May 16, 2017
However, with AC Milan likely to miss European football next season as well, Donnarumma is looking to seek pastures anew as a talent of his level warrants European football – something the Rossoneri have failed to provide and are unlikely to be able to provide next season as well.
Manchester United are in the final of the UEFA Europa League and could secure Champions League football if they beat Ajax in Stockholm.
However, David De Gea has been the subject of constant interest from Real Madrid and barring a repeat heroic from the fax machine, the chances of the Spaniard staying at Old Trafford are growing slimmer by the day. Jose Mourinho’s move to announce Sergio Romero as his choice for the final is unlikely to help the cause either.
In such a case, the Red Devils could move to land Donnarumma, who can, in all fairness, guard United’s goal for the next decade and half, at the very least. The 18-year-old could be tempted by the financial package along with the stature of the red half of Manchester.
On the other hand, Manchester City are also in dire need of a goalkeeper. Pep Guardiola wants a ball-playing goalkeeper but Claudio Bravo has failed to live up to the goalkeeping side of the game at Etihad so far.
At 18, Donnarumma could be taught by Guardiola, who could think of developing the AC Milan custodian as a ball-playing goalkeeper for the times ahead. And given his age, the player could be able to adapt to the changes better and faster than the other shot stoppers.
Donnarumma has just one year left on his AC Milan deal and the Rossoneri have failed to lock up an extension agreement with the player’s agent, Mino Raiola – the man behind the Paul Pogba transfer, something which could hand Manchester United the edge in the pursuit of the Italian.
However, Manchester United risk losing the battle to City, who are ready to offer £30 million to land Donnarumma and are reportedly in the lead. The summer is going to be an interesting battle ground for the Manchester clubs and Donnarumma is just one of the many who could be poised to be in the middle of the scuffle.
