Journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft has shared an update on Manchester United’s pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
United have contacted PSG about the Italy international and directly met him over a move to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are seeking to bolster the goalkeeping department due to the unreliability of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
They have been encouraged to explore a move from Donnarumma as PSG have told him to leave following the club’s acquisition of Lucas Chevalier from Lille and his refusal to accept a lower salary to extend his deal.
Speaking on United’s interest in the 26-year-old, Fjortoft revealed: “I have been told that a deal will be ‘expensive’ and it won’t happen before we sell more players.”
The Italian goalkeeper is rated at £35 million and will demand more than £210,000 weekly salary he receives at PSG, making the deal financially challenging for the Manchester outfit.
They have already spent £200m signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. They would need to sanction player sales to afford Donnarumma.
United want to sell Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho but have yet to record substantial progress in their quest to do so.
With a deal for Donnarumma proving difficult, United plan to stick with Onana as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The Cameroonian resumed training today alongside forward Joshua Zirkzee after missing pre-season due to an injury.
United are exploring the possibility of a behind-closed-doors friendly against a local rival this week to get Onana and new signing Benjamin Sesko match-fit ahead of the Premier League clash against Arsenal next Sunday.
Onana is poised to keep his place in the team for the upcoming season unless United can balance the books to fund a move for Donnarumma.