Donnarumma Prepares Bold Move as Man City Circle Star Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma is prepared to remain on the bench for half a year if he cannot find the appropriate transfer away from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, according to French media reports.
With less than seven days remaining in the transfer window for Europe's major leagues, time is rapidly diminishing for the sidelined Italian keeper. PSG coach Luis Enrique has clearly indicated that there is no place in the team for his previous number one goalkeeper, approving the recent signing of Lucas Chevalier as his successor.
After Manchester United and Chelsea withdrew from the competition to take advantage of this surprisingly unexpected development, Manchester City became the leading candidates for Donnarumma's services.
Pep Guardiola's team has allegedly reached personal agreement with the respected goalkeeper, however negotiations with PSG regarding an appropriate transfer sum have proven more challenging.
The European title holders are believed to have reduced their valuation in a bid to offload arguably the planet's finest goalkeeper, with multiple reports indicating that PSG would be open to accepting as low as €30 million (£25.9 million, $34.9 million) for a player with only twelve months left on his deal.
City, nevertheless, are willing to negotiate firmly. L'Équipe reports that the Premier League club are considering a €15 million offer, which falls too short of PSG's valuation for the increasingly anxious French club to consider.
Donnarumma is reportedly not concerned by this development. The same publication describes the 26-year-old as "prepared" to remain in Paris until the January transfer market reopens. Should the window close on Sep. 1 with Donnarumma still under PSG's employment, it will be fascinating to observe how Enrique manages the circumstances.
Following initial tension in the public statements regarding Donnarumma's exclusion—the player's representative threatened court proceedings at one stage—there seems to have been a reduction in hostility. Donnarumma received a friendly farewell from the Parc des Princes last Friday after PSG's opening home match of the campaign.