Manchester City have opened talks with a Manchester United target with just weeks left in the transfer window, with a move away from his current club almost guaranteed.
Despite making four new signings this summer, Manchester United are still looking at more new additions before the end of the transfer window this month, although any new additions are unlikely to join before the Premier League opener against Arsenal.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will certainly be involved when Rúben Amorim faces his former star striker Viktor Gyokeres at Old Trafford, and Diego Leon could feature off the bench after impressing in pre-season.
Benjamin Šeško may not be ready for a start after his move from RB Leipzig, but Rasmus Hojlund is also unlikely to be the centre forward, having been left out of the last pre-season game against David de Gea’s Fiorentina.
Joshua Zirkzee could return to the lineup, but he has missed all of pre-season with an injury and only returned to training this week. As did Andre Onana, but a start for the Cameroonian is more likely with no new goalkeeper signing at Old Trafford, although one could still join the club.
City open talks with Donnarumma
One of United’s named goalkeeper targets was Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, after the French club signed Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille to be their new starting shotstopper.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has previously confirmed that the shot-stopper’s most likely destination is the Premier League amid his omission from PSG’s Super Cup squad against Tottenham.
The Red Devils appeared to have a clear run at the Italian goalkeeper, but Manchester City have now opened talks to sign Donnarumma from PSG before the end of the transfer window, as per journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for City, but they have just re-signed James Trafford from Burnley as another goalkeeper target, with Ederson set to leave the club.
Trafford won’t want to be a backup shotstopper, and signing Donnarumma may cause more problems than it solves for Pep Guardiola; United could still have a chance to sign the Italian.
United likely to stick with Onana
Having been injured for the whole of pre-season, United have an easy opportunity to replace Onana as the starting goalkeeper, but they have yet to sign a new shotstopper, with Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton playing in between the sticks.
Therefore, it seems that Amorim will stick with Onana for at least the first half of the 2025/26 season, potentially considering a goalkeeper signing in January if the Cameroonian is struggling for form.
Signing an experienced goalkeeper, rather than a younger option, makes sense for the Red Devils because of the young talent already at the club, including Radek Vitek and Elyh Harrison, who will both spend this season on loan in the EFL.
Vitek, on loan at Bristol City, could be ready for a chance at the end of the season, so Amorim may trust the young goalkeeper from next season, seeing a new goalkeeper signing as pointless if Vitek impresses.
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