Manchester United might still be able to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer
Manchester United started the Premier League 2025/26 against Arsenal, and it was expected that the team would show something new after the last disappointing season. In the initial minutes, United played better, and it seemed that they could get hold of the match. But suddenly, a big mistake by Altay Bayindir spoiled everything.
His miscalculation on a corner could not stop the header of Arsenal’s new signing Riccardo Calafiori. After this, the game slowly started slipping out of hand. Benjamin Sesko did give energy by coming from the bench, but the real chances came to Bryan Mbeumo. One of his brilliant overhead kicks went out, and the second header was stopped by David Raya. In the end, United lost 1-0, and the first jolting start of the season came out.
Discussion of Donnarumma and United’s goalkeeper conundrum
United’s last season was already quite bad. Finishing 15th in the Premier League and then losing to Tottenham in the Europa League final was extremely disappointing for the club. Now the new problem is that the club’s attraction has decreased due to being out of European competitions.
Manchester United might still be able to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Via X)
Meanwhile, big news came that Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been put on the transfer list. ESPN reporter Jan Aage Fjortoft believes that United have a chance to complete this deal, and this could be enough to take the team to the top six of the Premier League. The club have been linked with the Italian in this transfer window.
PSG have signed Lille’s Lucas Chevalier, and due to this, Donnarumma has decided to leave the club. This is the same player who won the Champions League for his team in a brilliant 5-0 win against Inter Milan in May and made it to the Team of the Season. At just 26 years of age, Donnarumma is considered one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the world.
“Manchester United need a new goalkeeper if they are to have any realistic hopes of finishing in the top six. Donnarumma is a world-class keeper, and I understand there’s still a chance he could end up in Manchester….on the red side of the city. The challenge for United, though, is that they’ll need to move at least one goalkeeper out before that becomes possible.”
This deal is important for United because Andre Onana’s form has been a major cause of concern for the last two years. Ruben Amorim is forced to look for new options. Altay Bayindir’s name has also been linked with the transfer, but the big problem is that if Donnarumma comes, United will have to sell either Onana or Bayindir. Fjortoft believes that it would be more sensible to remove Onana because his huge salary and consistently poor performance have become a burden on the team.
If the Italian comes to Old Trafford, there is no doubt that United’s chances of returning to the top six will increase to a great extent. His height, reflexes and experience of big matches will strengthen United’s defence. For a team that are repeatedly struggling with goalkeeping mistakes, this change can prove to be a lifeline.
As for who should be sold between Onana and Bayindir, our opinion is that Onana should be let go. His salary is too high, and his performance has not been up to the mark. Bayindir can play the role of backup, but with a star like Donnarumma, there is no need for two contenders.
Donnarumma’s presence can instill confidence in United’s dressing room. The arrival of such a player who has won the Champions League will also give new energy to the other players. Ruben Amorim’s strategy will look more effective when he has such a reliable face on the goalpost. To be honest, this transfer will be nothing less than a turning point for United. Meanwhile, Napoli are eyeing Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson amidst competition from Manchester United