Manchester City Eyes Donnarumma for €35M? Guardiola Could Be Heading for a Tactical Overhaul

On August 13, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma announced via social media that he will be leaving the Parc des Princes this summer. The 26-year-old former Euro 2020 MVP and key figure in PSG’s treble-winning season revealed that certain people within the club do not want him to stay, forcing him to make the decision to leave. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Premier League giants Manchester City have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature—but their budget is capped at €35 million.

Complete Breakdown with PSG

Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final, PSG coach Luis Enrique confirmed that Donnarumma had been excluded from the match squad. The goalkeeper later expressed deep disappointment with the club, and his agent also parted ways with him. Donnarumma had agreed to a heavily reduced salary in a new contract, but PSG changed their stance at the last moment, completely breaking down relations. PSG are seeking around €55 million for his transfer, but with only one year left on his contract, an inflated wage, and the club’s clear stance that he is surplus to requirements, City have good reason to push for a lower price.

City’s Transfer Logic

Manchester City are willing to pay up to €35 million, which they consider a fair offer given the circumstances. Pep Guardiola admires Donnarumma’s shot-stopping abilities and wants him in the squad for his big-game reliability. However, the deal hinges on the departure of current No. 1 Ederson, who is in talks with Turkish giants Galatasaray. If Donnarumma arrives, recently re-signed academy product James Trafford will see his hopes of becoming the future first-choice goalkeeper diminish.

Tactical Fit Under Scrutiny

Donnarumma is renowned for his height, positioning, and reflexes, but his footwork has long been a weakness. Guardiola’s tactical system historically demands goalkeepers with exceptional passing and ball control—back in 2016, he replaced Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo for precisely this reason. Ederson has remained first choice for years because his distribution compensates for occasional shortcomings in shot-stopping.
Signing Donnarumma could signal that Guardiola is easing his strict requirements for a goalkeeper’s build-up play and might be shifting his tactical approach.

Signs of a Tactical Shift

Over the past two years, Guardiola’s transfer activity has hinted at a gradual evolution. Players such as Jérémy Doku, Khouma Babacar, and Omar Marmoush—physically strong but less refined technically—along with the goal-machine Erling Haaland, suggest a departure from pure possession-based football. City’s current squad arguably looks better suited to counterattacking than to patient build-up play.
If Donnarumma joins, it would further solidify this shift, marking a potential self-reinvention for a manager famed for his perfectionism.