PSG hijack another Barcelona target — report

According to Italian journalist Guillaume Maillard-Pacini, Paris-Saint Germain have hijacked yet another Barcelona transfer target.

A few days ago, the Paris-based club stole away Georginio Wijnaldum from the Blaugranas by offering him wages worth more than double which Joan Laporta and co were ready to offer. Now, Les Parisiens are about to do the same with former AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Touted to become one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Donnarumma is at the end of his contract in Milan. Moving away as a free agent, the goalkeeper is on the radar of several top-tier clubs across Europe. His agent, Mino Raiola, is attempting to find the Italian national the right club where he can continue to grow and develop as a player.

Barça had made contact with Raiola regarding his transfer; the high-profile agent had offered his player to the club himself. However, this transfer has not been one of the Catalan club’s main priorities over the summer, and it is likely they will continue to bet on the relatively underperforming Marc-Andres ter Stegen, who will surely bounce back into form soon.

Therefore, the conditions have been set for PSG to hijack yet another transfer target from Camp Nou. Donnarumma, whose transfer to Barça was becoming more and more likely, will now probably be pried away to Paris — a club that have the financial resources to offer him a much better contract.

It is likely that the 22-year-old’s agent will also get his notoriously large commission on this deal as well, with reports claiming he will be asking anything up to €20m, as Donnarumma will be joining PSG as a free agent, giving more leeway for a higher agent-fee. Barcelona, in any case, would have probably not been able to afford such a fee.