Paris Saint-Germain appear poised to move on from Gianluigi Donnarumma, the club’s current first-choice goalkeeper, opening opportunities for interested Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester United.

Despite negotiations, Donnarumma has yet to commit to a new contract with PSG. Without a renewed deal, this summer represents the final chance for PSG, European champions, to command a transfer fee for their prized Italian captain. This uncertainty has drawn several suitors keen on securing his services.

Chelsea have recently emerged as active contenders, capitalising on market opportunities to acquire valuable players, while Manchester United are keen to bolster their goalkeeping options. The Red Devils have been exploring various candidates amid waning confidence in their current number one, André Onana. They have even considered younger prospects like Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens. A loan approach for Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa was firmly rejected.

Meanwhile, PSG are advancing plans to refresh their squad between the posts. They have reportedly agreed personal terms with Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, with transfer negotiations ongoing. The fee for Chevalier is suggested to be around €40 million (£34.9 million, $47 million). PSG’s inability to finalize Donnarumma’s contract extension keeps the door open for his departure.

Chelsea’s strategic recruitment and Manchester United’s pressing need for a reliable goalkeeper place Donnarumma at the centre of significant transfer speculation this summer. Both clubs stand to gain by acquiring a goalkeeper of his calibre.

This unfolding scenario highlights the evolving dynamics of top-level football transfers, where contract uncertainties and tactical rebuilds drive strategic market moves.

Ruben Amorim expressed satisfaction with Manchester United’s pre-season preparations as the club aims to recover from a difficult 2024–25 season. Since his arrival in early November to replace Erik ten Hag, Amorim has faced challenges implementing his tactical approach due to limited training time and ongoing midweek European fixtures. This summer, free from major international tournaments, has allowed for extensive work on the pitch. “We, as a team, need more time on the pitch, not just for the physical or tactical aspect, but the bond between [the players]. You build that during the week, with time on the [training] pitch. So, I’m really happy with that,” said Amorim.

For the first time since the 2014–15 campaign, Manchester United will not compete in European football. Mason Mount, who joined from Chelsea in 2023, underscored the importance of reclaiming a UEFA competition spot. “Europe is a massive, massive thing for us,” he said during the first pre-season tour in Chicago. “The Champions League would be amazing for us and as a group we want to be playing in that competition. But I’d say Europe. I think that’s the focus.”

Mount has battled injury setbacks since joining United, missing 23 games last season and 27 the season before. However, he returned strongly at the close of last term, making a full run of appearances in April and May. “At the end of last season, getting back and feeling really, really good, playing some games and scoring some goals was obviously very important for me,” Mount reflected. “I still want to kick on. Any time you do get that opportunity to be on the pitch, you want to do something, you want to affect the game. That’s always the way I’ve looked at it.”

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke has expressed skepticism over Manchester United’s chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League for the 2025–26 season. Speaking on DA4P’s YouTube channel, Solanke provided his predictions for the teams likely to qualify for the Champions League spots.

Solanke confidently included Tottenham first in his top-four forecast, followed by Liverpool and Manchester City. When questioned about Manchester United’s potential to challenge for a Champions League position next term, Solanke simply replied, “nah,” instead opting to include Arsenal as a contender.

This blunt verdict reflects the ongoing struggles faced by the Red Devils, who endured a difficult previous season. While Solanke’s confidence in Tottenham’s qualification might raise some eyebrows—given their 17th-place finish last season—his assessment of Manchester United aligns with widespread doubts about their immediate recovery under Ruben Amorim’s management.

Solanke’s straightforward response underlines the challenges ahead for Manchester United, suggesting the club faces another challenging campaign outside Europe’s elite competition.