Manchester United have spent north of £200m during this summer transfer window, and they’re not done yet, with the opportunity to fill a problem position with the “best in the world”.
Ruben Amorim went into this transfer window with a few clear objectives. A natural attacking midfielder was needed, and Ineos have delivered two – Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
A physically imposing striker was needed, and that breed of striker is perhaps personified by Benjamin Sesko in modern football.
The next focus is on an athletic midfielder, where Carlos Baleba is targeted, but Man Utd have the opportunity to sign the “best in the world” for their next problem area.
Ineos won’t, and it’s for all the right reasons.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Champions League final.
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
Man Utd can sign Gianluigi Donnarumma
Many Man Utd fans would argue that a goalkeeper is as big a priority as a defensive midfielder, or even a striker, before Sesko arrived.
Andre Onana managed to find new lows in his form seemingly every game last season, and it wasn’t an isolated spell either.
Overall, Onana has had more bad games for the club than good ones, and all the attacking talent in the world will count for nothing if the goalkeeper keeps making unforced errors.
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Enter Gianluigi Donnarumma, the current Champions League holder who has been dubbed the “best in the world” by many, from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Roberto Mancini, and Paolo Maldini, among others.
Donnarumma’s position at PSG is precarious after they signed Lucas Chevalier. The Italian can’t agree on a new contract, and the team won’t commit to him without it.
Donnarumma’s exit is likely, and with his current contract expiring next summer, PSG need to sell or risk letting such a talent leave on a free transfer.
The Premier League is his most likely destination, and who better to sign him than the club looking for a goalkeeper?
Apparently not Man Utd, because it has been reported by The Athletic that United’s move for Donnarumma “won’t materialise”.
It is a rare occasion when passing up the opportunity to sign the best in the world at a problem position will be welcomed by the fanbase.
Donnarumma transfer would betray Man Utd’s vision
United have taken great pains this season to reset the dressing room culture at Old Trafford, and there is a conscious effort made to realign the wage structure.
It can’t be ignored that Donnarumma’s exit from Milan, and now his pending exit from PSG, have both happened due to disagreements over wages.
The player, on both occasions, has left a sour taste in the fans’ mouths over his conduct when he fell out of favour with the club.
That is exactly the kind of personality that Amorim is intent on avoiding adding to the squad, regardless of how talented the player might be.
On paper, Donnarumma is the dream acquisition for United, the kind of transfer that pushes a club from pretender to contender.
Actual football, however, is not just played on paper, and Man Utd’s vision now would be completely betrayed if they upended their wage structure to sign Donnarumma.
It would have a sour exit in the future written all over it. Nobody wants a repeat of the current exiled players at the club.