Forget Donnarumma: Man United can sign their ideal next goalkeeper for £20m this summer
Manchester United are thought to be keeping tabs on a number of goalkeepers this summer
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly made signing a goalkeeper one of the club’s main priorities this summer.
United finished last season in 15th position, marking their worst campaign of the Premier League era so far. First choice goalkeeper Andre Onana was criticised for making several high profile errors across the course of the campaign, with no Premier League goalkeeper making more mistakes leading to goals than the Cameroonian.
Onana has so far struggled to live up to the hype that surrounded him when he first arrived from Champions League finalists Inter Milan in 2023, and was dropped from the matchday squad on several occasions towards the end of the season as backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir struggled to make an impression.
Man Utd linked with Gianlugi Donnarumma
Caught Offside claims United could be open to cashing in on Onana to raise funds for a new shot-stopper to take his place. United have placed a price tag of £35m-£40m on Onana and there is reportedly growing interest from various clubs such as AS Monaco and teams in the Middle East that see the former Inter Milan player as a worthwhile signing. Manchester Evening News claim after a failed loan offer for Emiliano Martinez, United are now exploring the prospect of trying to sign Champions League and Euro 2020 winner Gianlugi Donnarumma.
The Italian international is struggling to agree a new contract with PSG and is heading into the final year of his stay in the French capital. the Italian is looking for a wage increase and he has yet to receive a figure which he feels is worthy of his consideration, leaving United and Man City on red alert. The Parisians are thought to already be in the process of bidding for Lille’s Lucas Chevalier and may look to cash in on Donnarumma this summer as opposed to letting him go on a free.
The ideal £20m Gianlugi Donnarumma alternative Man Utd could also target
Gianlugi Donnarumma is quite simply one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. However, there’s plenty of obstacles the club would have to overcome to entice the Italian to join them, particularly at a time where they have no European football to offer.
Donnarumma is likely to have a big price tag regardless of his contract situation and is the subject of interest from various big clubs. He’s also already on a great wage and would likely be difficult to reach an agreement with baring in mind he’s struggling to negotiate a contract with one of the richest clubs in the world.
Signing Donnarumma would be a huge statement of intent but there are also cheaper alternatives that could still have a huge impact on helping United climb the table next term. One of those is AC Milan goalkeeper and France No.1 Mike Maignan. The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract at the San Siro and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club throughout the summer.
Maignan was the subject of interest from Chelsea with an initial £12m offer being rejected by the Italian side. AC Milan only want £20m to part ways with the 30-year-old but that particular deal ultimately never materialized due to Chelsea’s model of putting their money towards younger footballers with greater sell-on value.
The Frenchman could represent a great opportunity for United. He appears to be open to moving on from Italy, is a proven leader that has captained the team since October 2024, and he has long been regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in Italian football. Maignan has been a member of title-winning teams in both France with Lille in 2020/21 and with Milan the following season in Italy. He’s also made the Team of the Season twice in Serie A and in 2021/22 was voted as the best goalkeeper in the division.
“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world,” said Liverpool’s Allison Becker last season.
While Lucas Hernandez said of his France teammate during the 2022 World Cup, via Foot Mercato: “This serenity that he has and this tranquillity that he exudes, it’s incredible. Hoping that he continues like this because he is top 1 in the world. He reassures us, he brings a lot of security, on corners, in aerial play, he gives a lot of security to the defenders and the whole team.”