Paris Saint-Germain are faced with the daunting task of subsidising Gianluigi Donnarumma’s eye-watering £500,000-a-week wages as they scramble to find a buyer for their out-of-favour Italian shot-stopper. Manchester City have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old if they can strike a deal to offload Brazilian favourite Ederson to Galatasaray.
However, City are not willing to make Donnarumma the second-highest earner at the Etihad, trailing only Erling Haaland. PSG have been peddling the former AC Milan keeper to Premier League clubs all summer – and Chelsea are now being mooted as a potential landing spot.
Manchester United deemed the financial package too steep after being quoted a £50million valuation. Despite the European champions halving their asking price, the player’s personal terms are still considered excessive.
City have shelled out £30million this summer to bring England Under-21 international James Trafford back to the club from Burnley. Trafford’s blunder against Tottenham last weekend sparked rumours that he may be loaned out for the season.
While Donnarumma would bring experience to the City squad, the Italian lacks the passing range that Pep Guardiola requires from his keepers.
City’s final match before the international break is an away fixture against a Brighton side who triumphed over them at the Amex Stadium last November. A Manchester Derby is on the horizon after they return, with Manchester United visiting the Etihad on September 14.
“Always we have the arms around their shoulders – the way we take care of them,” City boss Pep Guardiola said when asked about Trafford’s difficult moment. “It is impossible to be better.
“What happened does not belong just to James. To James what happened with the second goal [against Spurs], he’s a strong man and huge personality. Of course he was concerned, and I wouldn’t want it any other way, but we are here to help in those moments.”
City have now discovered their fixture list for the 2025-26 Champions League campaign.
The league phase commences during the week of September 15, with City beginning proceedings at home to Napoli on the Thursday as Kevin De Bruyne prepares to face his former club – whilst Leroy Sane will return to Manchester with Galatasaray following the new year.
“I am really pleased that they can come back here and, of course, we have to beat the two teams – Napoli and Galatasaray,” Guardiola said of the prospect of facing the duo. “But it is nice to bring them back, and we can give a great welcome to them because they deserve it.”
Should holders PSG fail to offload Donnarumma, the goalkeeper might still appear against Premier League rivals in Europe.
The French outfit will welcome Tottenham Hotspur on November 26 and Newcastle on January 28.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk