Gianluigi Donnarumma's Future at PSG in Question Amid Transfer Speculations
Gianluigi Donnarumma's tenure at Paris Saint-Germain seems to be coming to an end after he was omitted from Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham, following the acquisition of Lucas Chevalier from Lille.
This raises questions about the future of a goalkeeper who is a leading contender for the title of the world's best this year.
While Manchester City has characterized reports linking them to Donnarumma as mere speculation, they have not completely dismissed the possibility of a transfer, particularly if their current goalkeeper, Ederson, decides to leave. Sources within PSG suggest that a move to City could be a likely outcome for the Italian international.
PSG did extend a new contract offer to Donnarumma this summer. However, head coach Luis Enrique stated on Tuesday that he is now pursuing a "different profile" of goalkeeper.
Enzo Raiola, Donnarumma's agent, mentioned that the goalkeeper was willing to accept a salary reduction to remain in Paris. This claim has been refuted by those at Parc des Princes, who believe that the salary proposed would have positioned Donnarumma among the highest-paid goalkeepers globally.
Both parties are now looking to facilitate a transfer to prevent any escalation of tensions, and PSG is expected to seek a fee that would yield a profit from what was initially a free transfer four years ago.
Will Ederson Leave Manchester City?
Manchester City currently has four senior goalkeepers, which is one more than they require. Thus, it is somewhat surprising that they are heavily linked with Donnarumma.
Reports suggested that Pep Guardiola's side had reached an agreement to sign him; however, sources close to Donnarumma have informed BBC Sport that no such discussions have taken place.
Ederson has been frequently linked with a move to Galatasaray, but City sources insist they want the Brazilian to remain in Manchester, and there have been no formal bids or expressions of interest thus far.
The 31-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and stated during the Club World Cup in June that his "future is here." However, this could change if a substantial offer were to be made.
City's competition for the goalkeeper position is robust, with James Trafford joining from Burnley and Marcus Bettinelli signed as a third-choice option this summer. Consequently, Stefan Ortega's career at the club appears to be winding down, with City open to offers for the German goalkeeper. This scenario would necessitate finding a replacement should Ederson also depart.
This situation brings the focus back to Donnarumma. Although no contact has occurred between the parties thus far, this could change by the end of the month.
Does Donnarumma to Manchester City Make Sense?
How does Donnarumma's skill set compare to City's current goalkeepers, and would he be compatible with Guardiola's tactical approach?
His exclusion from Luis Enrique's plans is believed to stem from concerns about his ball-handling abilities. However, Guardiola also requires his goalkeepers to be adept with the ball and capable of initiating attacks.
Ederson is renowned for his passing skills, having set a Premier League record for goalkeepers with eight assists during his time at the club, four of which came in the most recent season. In contrast, while Donnarumma has yet to record an assist, his passing accuracy in Ligue 1 last season was an impressive 85.4%, slightly below Ederson's Premier League percentage and higher than Ortega's.
Donnarumma's save percentage of 66.2% may raise eyebrows, especially given his 6ft 5in stature. He managed only four clean sheets in 24 league starts, conceding nearly four more goals than expected, according to Opta's analysis.
In previous seasons and during the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Donnarumma demonstrated better statistics, saving over 70% of shots faced and successfully stopping nearly one in four penalties throughout his career.
Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague commented on BBC Radio 5 Live, stating, "I am surprised Pep [Guardiola] considers Donnarumma as one of the top three goalkeepers in the world. He possesses something special in the six-yard box, anticipating plays before the forward strikes the ball. However, he is not the best with his feet, unless Guardiola believes he can improve that, which aligns with Pep's philosophy. It is something he must develop, as he saves points for the team. I don't see him at that elite level, but obviously, Pep does, so if the opportunity arises, they will pursue him."
Manchester United or Chelsea for Donnarumma?
Manchester United understood it would be impossible to address all the deficiencies in Ruben Amorim's squad in a single transfer window.
Initially, there were inquiries about Aston Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but those discussions did not progress. Since then, United has focused on strengthening their attacking positions.
As the summer approached, few anticipated that the club would secure three high-profile signings without offloading any significant players. Now that they have accomplished this, they need to consider selling and have decided to direct any available funds toward addressing the central midfield situation rather than acquiring a new goalkeeper.
In this context, Andre Onana is expected to be fit for Sunday's Premier League opener against Arsenal; however, his backup, Altay Bayindir, has not moved as anticipated after being left out of the Europa League final starting lineup.
Veteran Tom Heaton has signed a one-year contract, providing Amorim with experienced cover, while promising talents Radek Vitek and Elyh Harrison, aged 21 and 19 respectively, have just begun loan spells at Bristol City and Shrewsbury.
Meanwhile, sources have dismissed rumors suggesting that Chelsea is considering signing Donnarumma this summer, despite fleeting interest in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan in June. Chelsea remains committed to entering the upcoming season with Robert Sanchez as their primary goalkeeper, along with Filip Jorgensen as a capable backup who can provide serious competition.