Man City Pursues Ballon d'Or Nominee Donnarumma Amid Transfer Competition

Manchester City is actively pursuing several transfer targets as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, recently nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, is a prime target for City, who are prepared to offer between £21m and £26m amid interest from other top clubs like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. Despite signing James Trafford as a future number one, City sees Donnarumma as a valuable market opportunity, with Pep Guardiola a strong admirer. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish’s future is uncertain, with Everton interested in a loan deal and City considering using him in a part-exchange to sign West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, a player Guardiola has long targeted. Additionally, both Manchester City and Manchester United are monitoring Brighton’s highly rated midfielder Carlos Baleba, valued at around £104 million, though Baleba may remain at Brighton for another season. City’s recruitment strategy also focuses on young talent, having shown interest in Porto’s £60.3 million-rated Rodrigo Mora, a Kopa Trophy nominee, though Arsenal currently leads the race for his signing.