Chelsea and PSG ‘set to battle for AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’
Chelsea are reportedly set to go up against Paris Saint-Germain in a battle to sign AC Milan‘s coveted goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma once the transfer window opens.
Prior to the season being delayed by the coronavirus crisis, Frank Lampard appeared to have lost faith in the world’s most expensive stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, and opted for veteran Willy Caballero as his No 1.
Chelsea’s confidence in Kepa, 25, still appears diminished, with reports in Italy now linking the Blues with a big-money move for Milan’s prized asset.
Chelsea are said to have earmarked Gianluigi Donnarumma as their first choice goalkeeper
Lampard will enter the market for Donnarumma but will face tough competition from French giants PSG, according to Tuttosport.
The Parisians are said to hold a trump card in the form of Alphonse Areola, who is currently on loan with Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid.
PSG are happy to part ways with the 27-year-old Frenchman, and could use Areola as a makeweight in the deal to seal Donnarumma’s signature.
The 21-year-old AC Milan star is regarded as one of the best keepers in European football
PSG are also in the market, and are willing to offer Alphonse Areola as part of a deal
In recent seasons Donnarumma, 21, has also been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus.
With contract negotiations in Italy breaking down, Donnarumma looks a certainty to finally move on from Milan this summer.
Donnarumma, who made his debut for the San Siro outfit, at the age of just 16 in 2015, is currently contracted to Milan until the summer of 2021.
Lampard is understood to want to move quickly, in order to settle the goalkeeping situation at Stamford Bridge once and for all.
The club legend inherited the £71million Kepa upon his arrival at the club, but a series of high-profile errors have seen the Spanish stopper come under serious scrutiny.
Frank Lampard played the most recent matches with veteran Willy Caballero as first choice
Despite being the world’s most expensive keeper, Kepa’s Chelsea days appear numbered
‘It’s a decision that I make and I think with goalkeepers it’s a decision you don’t take lightly because of what it means,’ said the Chelsea boss after first axing Kepa from the starting line-up in February, following a last-gasp blunder against Newcastle.
The statistics for the 25-year-old are damning. Of all goalkeepers to play over 1,000 minutes in the Premier League this season, Kepa is last in overall save percentage, save percentage for shots faced inside the box and in expected goals prevented – he has conceded 6.72 goals more than he should have.
