Reports have surfaced from SportMediaSetthat Chelsea hope to lure AC Milan starlet Gianluigi Donnarumma to Stamford Bridge.
The Italian broadcasters claim that the goalkeeper will become the subject of a transfer bid from the London club, who will offer amind-boggling salary thought to bein the region of €4m per annum(around€80k-a-week!) to the player - double what AC Milan are supposedly offering.
Donnarumma's current contract expires at the San Siro in 2018 and Milan are keen to negotiate with the youngster before he turns 18.
The 17-year-old is represented by high-profile agent Mino Raiola (whose clientsalso include Manchester United duo Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic),whohas advised the player against committing his long-term futureto Milan too quicklyamidst interest from European giants.
The Italian agent brokered the world-record transfer of Pogba to Manchester United this summer, and will see Donnarumma as another potential gold mine.
The Chinese consortium Sino-Europe will be hopingto tie the player to a new deal before the upcoming winter transfer window in January, although any swoop mid-season may be unlikely.
Chelsea currently have the (still)relatively young Thibaut Courtois between the sticks at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian stopper has conceded just one goal in over 14 hours of game time, but came under fireamongst Blues fanslast seasonduring the club's dip in form whocalled into question his attitude.
Donnarumma's rapidrise to stardom has also caught the attention of European giantsReal Madrid and Juventus. The Azzurri may finally have to bid farewell to club legendGianluigi Buffon at the end of the season.
Buffonturns 40 nextand Juventus may look to launch a fittingbid forthe player whose namesakehas drawn countless comparisons to already.
Donnarumma is viewed by many as the natural heir to Buffon's legacy in Italian football, and may see The Old Lady as the perfect fit if the money thrown around by Chelsea isn't too difficult to ignore.