Ian Wright says Chelsea should have rivalled Man City for £26m signing

Manchester City completed a £26m deal for Gianluigi Donnarumma on transfer deadline day Picture: Getty)

Ian Wright has questioned Chelsea’s apparent lack of interest in Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer, claiming the goalkeeper would have been an excellent addition at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea splashed out in the region of £300million on new recruits across another busy transfer window, with club bosses throwing their support behind Enzo Maresca after a strong end to the 2024/25 campaign.

The Blues made sure to bolster their attack by capturing Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao and had been keen to strengthen at the other end of the pitch on the back of an error-strewn season for Robert Sanchez.

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was identified as Chelsea’s top target to replace Sanchez and appeared to be closing in on a switch to west London, with the Serie A giants willing to let the Frenchman leave for a fee of £25m.

However, the Club World Cup winners were not prepared to stump up the required cash for Maignan, meaning Sanchez held onto the number one spot as the transfer deadline came and went.

Sanchez has gone on to start all five of Chelsea’s opening Premier League matches this term, but suffered yet another lapse in concentration as he was sent off in only the fifth minute of the side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

Filip Jorgensen will be expected to start in place of the suspended Sanchez against Brighton this coming Saturday after being given the nod at Lincoln in the Carabao Cup.

Sanchez’s struggles continued as he was sent off in Chelsea’s loss to United (Picture: Getty) Wright is confident Donnarumma would have been an excellent signing for Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

But Chelsea’s reluctance to release the necessary funds on a quality upgrade between the sticks has left fans and pundits alike baffled, especially given Donnarumma was available before Manchester City struck a £26m deal with PSG for the giant Italian on deadline day.

‘Why didn’t Chelsea buy him? Why didn’t Chelsea buy him?’ ex-Arsenal and England striker Wright said of Donnarumma on the latest episode of The Overlap.

‘I heard it [Donnarumma leaving PSG] was to do with the money, that PSG are not giving that money to him anymore.’

Gary Neville, meanwhile, was left gobsmacked when told Donnarumma was only 26 years old and questioned why Manchester United did not rival Manchester City for the Champions League-winning shot-stopper.

‘Donnarumma isn’t 26, is he? He’s 26, Donnarumma?!’ Neville said.

‘Donnarumma looks literally about two or three years younger than me. Jheeze!

‘United didn’t buy Donnarumma for £30m when he was 26 years old?!’

Donnarumma won the 2025 Yashin Trophy on Monday (Picture: Getty)

Donnarumma scooped the 2025 Yashin Trophy for a second time at Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, four years after he first won the prestigious prize, awarded to the best-performing goalkeeper in world football.

The Italy international played an instrumental role in PSG’s success last season as Luis Enrique’s men completed a clean sweep by winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French Cup and the Trophee des Champions.

Facing the media on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to congratulate his new number one.

‘Congratulations to him and, PSG, of course, as well! It’s what he has done in Paris,’ the City head coach told reporters.

‘But yeah, the impact has been really great. Always when we have him, we’re happy that he can be satisfied.

‘Finishing ninth or sixth or 12th, or as much as you are there, close, it means you have done a really, really good season.

‘I have the feeling that Gigi…. every season he’s there, close, as a good ‘keeper. Today it looks so important the individual awards, but all the nominees, all the winners; well done, well played, and congratulations!’

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