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Man City 'pursuing record-breaking 26-year-old' as Ederson replacement as £51m Man United battle emerges

City-United battle emerges as Pep 'pursues' record-breaker for Ederson replacement
© Imago
Manchester City reportedly eye a record-breaking 26-year-old goalkeeper as a potential successor to Ederson should the Brazilian depart in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City have added Paris Saint-Germain number one Gianluigi Donnarumma to their list of potential Ederson successors, according to a report.

As Pep Guardiola's current first-choice shot-stopper is out of contract in 2026, the Citizens are said to be planning for life without the 31-year-old guarding the posts.

Ederson is reportedly being eyed for a shock transfer by a former Manchester United and Chelsea head coach, while Stefan Ortega is not a long-term option in between the sticks either.

Porto's Diogo Costa is thought to have been Man City's number one target to inherit the gloves from Ederson, and Sky Blues fans have been told that a deal to bring the Portuguese to Manchester is "expected to happen".

However, Football Insider claims that PSG's Donnarumma is also on the radar of Man City chiefs after his heroics against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, where the Italy international set a new club record.

Donnarumma 'definitely a target' for Man City

Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma pictured on September 6, 2024© Imago

Donnarumma pulled off five saves in the 1-0 first-leg win at the Emirates, the most of any PSG goalkeeper in a Champions League knockout game without conceding since Opta began collecting data in 2003.

The former AC Milan goalkeeper then also excelled in the second leg as PSG set up a tantalising final with Inter Milan, but he is only under contract with the Ligue 1 champions until the summer of 2026.

Discussions are believed to be ongoing over an extension to Donnarumma's current terms, which reportedly see him pocket in excess of £200,000 a week at the Parc des Princes, but there is the possibility that he could depart for a fee this summer if no renewal is agreed.

"He's not the only goalkeeper they've been looking at, but he's definitely a target," former scout Mick Brown told the publication. "The only thing that's going to make him move away from there is money – they'd have to offer him an increase on what he's on at PSG.

"He's happy there, playing a key role in getting them to the Champions League final, and he's a regular for Italy as well. It would be up to Man City to come up with that offer and make that move happen, a move that would rank as a shock in some quarters."

Man City facing Manchester United battle to capture Donnarumma?

Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrates on May 7, 2025© IconSport

While Donnarumma has been guilty of a few high-profile mistakes this season - errors that have contributed to him only keeping five clean sheets in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season - the focus has understandably been on his stellar Champions League displays.

The 26-year-old will not be short of suitors if he decides to sever ties with PSG this summer, and Man City may have to fend off interest from bitter rivals Manchester United to lure him to the Premier League.

A separate report has claimed that the Red Devils are prepared to fork out up to £51m for the Italy international, whom they view as the perfect replacement for another error-strewn goalkeeper in Andre Onana.

However, Man United would be at an immediate disadvantage if they fail to qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League, while Man City are in control of their UCL destiny in fourth place in the Premier League table.

Donnarumma joined PSG on a free transfer in 2021 just after playing a starring role in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph, and the 26-year-old has recorded 50 clean sheets in 152 matches for Les Parisiens since.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma celebrates on May 7, 2025
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