Juventus are entertaining the prospect of signing AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and hope to lure him to Turin with a massive pay raise. Per the Daily Mail, reigning Serie A title-holders ‘are poised to swoop’ for the highly-rated keeper, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Donnarumma could leave the San Siro on a free unless the Rossoneri manage to negotiate his extension with super-agent Mino Raiola. The Italians have approached the shot-stopper’s entourage with an offer but have yet to receive a response.
The 22-year-old’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season, with Raiola asking for a substantial salary increase for his client. Donnarumma currently earns £5.2million per year, which is deemed too low by his representative.
Elsewhere, the Bianconeri are in the market for a new keeper following Wojciech Szczesny’s underwhelming performances this season. The perennial Serie A champions are hopeful that an offer of £8.7million net per season will be enough to convince Donnarumma to swap allegiances.
With Gianluigi Buffon expected to hang up his boots in the summer and Szczesny’s unconvincing displays, Andrea Pirlo is desperate to sign a high-profile goalkeeper.
Juventus have already showcased their ability to capture household names with the promise of hefty wages. Emre Can, Adrien Rabiot, and Aaron Ramsey are the latest examples of Fabio Paratici’s extraordinary negotiating skills.
However, a truly disappointing domestic season sees Juve still fighting tooth and nail to secure a top-four finish in Serie A.
Sitting fourth in the standings, only two points clear of Napoli, the Turin giants face a keenly-contested battle to claim Champions League football for next season.
Meanwhile, with Donnarumma’s future hanging up in the air, Milan have identified Lille’s Mike Maignan as a potential long-term successor of the Italian prodigy.