Manchester United ‘in pole position’ to sign wonderkid as Chelsea contemplate ‘unthinkable’ £45m saleplaceholder image
Manchester United ‘in pole position’ to sign wonderkid as Chelsea contemplate ‘unthinkable’ £45m sale | Getty Images
Chelsea and Manchester United are both linked with the same player in a signing that would significantly bolster both clubs
Chelsea have enjoyed one of the most impressive transfer windows of the summer in the Premier League but they could still add more players before the September 1 deadline, according to the latest reports.
Enzo Maresca’s side have sat on the fringe of the title conversation after winning the Club World Cup last month with a 3-0 victory over European champions Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey.
As the opening game of the season at home to Crystal Palace approaches, Chelsea are being linked with a huge move for Italian and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Bid expected as Chelsea and two other clubs contact Donnarumma’s agent
According to ESPN, Donnarumma is free to find a new club this summer with PSG signing d Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier on a five-year contract last weekend. The French outfit will allow Donnarumma to move on and “expect an offer from Chelsea, Manchester United or Inter Milan who have all had contact with Enzo Raiola, Donnarumma's agent.”
The Italian only has one year to run on his contract in the French capital with ESPN claiming he’s on €850,000 a month which works out at around £170,000-per-week in wages.
Brazil manager and former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti previously branded the player as world class in an interview Italian newspaper La Repubblica. It is a rare opportunity to sign one of the world’s top goalkeepers and one that Chelsea or rivals Man United could seize this summer.
Donnarumma is a huge upgrade on Chelsea’s current goalkeepers - and he could turn them into title contenders
Donnarumma is considered one of the best goalkeepers in world football and his arrival would significantly strengthen the Blues. Robert Sánchez is the current first choice but he has his limitations.
He made a number of errors last campaign but eventually regained Maresca’s trust towards the end of the season. Speaking in March ahead of a 1-0 loss at Arsenal, Maresca said: “It will be Robert playing against Arsenal.
“Since we start, the idea was not to change goalkeeper - but sometimes you have to modify, you have to be flexible in your idea.
“We do this with the game plan, we do this with the way we want to attack, the way we want to defend, but also we need to be flexible with players.
“I think Robert needed some days off or at least to rest his head mentally. And now he is back we are hopefully not going to change until the end [of the season], also because I said many times we are quite happy with both goalkeepers.”
While Sanchez has improved of late, it is hard to argue that Donnarumma would not improve Chelsea’s chances of winning the Premier League. Whether the expected offer comes is another matter with other clubs showing interest in the goalkeeper.
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