Pep Guardiola (left) and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howeplaceholder image
Pep Guardiola (left) and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe | Getty Images
Manchester City are in talks over a move to sign a Champions League-winning player for just £26 million.
Pep Guardiola’s summer has gone pretty much as planned this year, as the Man City boss has been able to replace his departed players and also fill depth holes that City had last season, especially when they began to suffer injury problems.
One of the biggest transfer sagas for Man City this year is the future of goalkeeper Ederson, who was rumoured with an exit this summer. There has been reported interest from Turkish side Galatasaray, and the Saudi Pro League, and so, the Brazilian could decide to leave.
It is understood that Man City want to keep Ederson, but in order to cover for the Brazilian international, they re-signed James Trafford from Burnley, who was one of the best goalkeepers in England last year.
Man City in talks to sign Donnarumma
Amid the uncertain future of Ederson, it has been reported that City are in talks to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was recently replaced at Paris Saint-Germain as the French club signed his replacement in the form of Lille keeper Lucas Chevalier.
Donnarumma will leave the French capital this summer with just one year left on his contract, and a move to the Premier League, looks like it could be on the cards. Chelsea recently pulled out of the race for Donnarumma, but Man City and Manchester United are said to be keen on the 26-year-old.
City are considering a move for Donnarumma should Ederson leave, as the Italian could come in and replace him. However, if they were to do this, it would be a major blow to James Trafford, who would then have to sit behind Donnarumma and play as City’s backup. According to a report by the i Paper, Donnarumma is expected to be available for as little as £26m. Despite City being an attractive place for players, signing one of the best goalkeepers in the world for just £26m would still be a massive coup given he just one the Champions League with PSG.
Newcastle would be seething if City sign Donnarumma
Trafford joining City was a fairly straightforward deal, as the club had a buy-back clause in his contract at Burnley. However, there was serious interest from Newcastle United in the English stopper, and it is understood that a move to St James’ could have been very likely for Trafford if he didn’t move to City.
City’s buy-back clause was £40m for Trafford but they also had a matching rights clause too. It meant that because an offer of around £27m from Newcastle for Trafford was accepted by Burnley earlier in the summer, City had the chance to make the same £27m offer and sign him for £13m less than the buy-back. It is exactly what Guardiola’s side did in a shrewd piece of business.
However, if Man City sign Donnarumma, Newcastle would be massively frustrated. For one, they lost out on signing Trafford, one of many players that Eddie Howe missed out on this summer - others being Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro.
But also, Newcastle know that they could have offered Trafford first-team football, which may have swayed the City keeper to push for a move to St James’ rather than Man City. However, at the time he signed for City, Trafford would have been tempted by being the future keeper at the Etihad once Ederson leaves.
It would be another major blow in a dismal summer for the Magpies. They did sign a keeper in former Arsenal and Southampton star Aaron Ramsdale, but he isn’t necessarily expected to be their nailed-on starter, something that Trafford would have more likely done. Now the ex-Burnley man could be facing a season as back-up option.
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