Donnarumma Real Madrid deal could boost Chelsea and Man Utd

Goalkeepers remain central to this summer's transfer merry-go-round. Since the end of the season, both Man City and Everton have been paying record fees for their keepers.

New City signing Ederson became the most expensive keeper in history earlier this month when the club paid £34.7m to Benfica for his services. Earlier this week Everton paid £30m for Sunderland stopper Jordan Pickford.

Now it's AC Milan's goalie, Gianluigi Donnarumma who's the centre of attention after he refused the offer of a new contract at AC Milan.

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"The 18-year-old is widely seen as the heir to Gianluigi Buffon's throne in Italy, having earned his first senior international cap aged 17 years and six months," reports Sky Sports. With Milan now likely to sell him, Real Madrid "have been installed as odds-on favourites to sign the Italian this summer".

The impact of that signing could be keenly felt in the Premier League, as Real had been strongly linked with both David de Gea of Manchester United and Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea.

"But with neither Premier League willing to sell and neither goalkeeper particularly interested in forcing a move, the back-to-back European champions have been forced to look elsewhere. And Donnarumma... offers a much longer-term solution given his age," says the website 90 Min.

The move could also give Joe Hart an unexpected option. The Man City keeper is surplus to requirements at the Etihad and there were few suitors for his services. But the England gloveman has experience of Serie A, having spent last season on loan at Torino, and could find himself in contention to replace Donnarumma in Milan.

Ousted Real Madrid goalie Keylor Navas could also find himself a wanted man in England if he decides to leave Spain.

The fee that Donnarumma will command is unclear, but given his youth and the sudden spike in the value of goalkeepers it's likely to eclipse what City paid for Ederson. Indeed, as a benchmark, the Daily Star reports that Man United were demanding £100m for the services of De Gea.