Whenever Manchester City have lifted the Premier League title aloft during Pep Guardiola’s glittering reign to date, these major title wins have always been won on the basis of a stern defence, alongside possessing some top-notch attackers.
Indeed, City’s sizeable points haul of 98 come the end of the 2018/19 season saw just 23 goals given up. On the contrary, when fast forwarding to today’s choppy campaign, the usually stern champions have leaked a far higher 43 with three fixtures still left to play.
This could culminate in Guardiola changing up his defensive options soon to prepare for next season, with a fresh goalkeeper one target that’s surely on his mind.
Man City's pursuit of a new goalkeeper
The Spaniard has already been tinkering with his defensive set-up away from the potential of more new signings entering through the door, with faces such as Nico O’Reilly becoming a regular in the back four as an attack-focused full-back.
But, he won’t be done there when it comes to freshening up his XI, with goalkeeper targets such as Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa reportedly on the agenda.
A move for Costa hasn’t got off the ground by all accounts, leaving City looking for other stoppers who could do a job over the expected departee of Ederson, with Paris St Germain star Gianluigi Donnarumma now listed as one of their main targets in between the sticks.
Indeed, reports from Italy suggest that Guardiola and Co are keen admirers of the 6 foot 5 ‘keeper who is just fresh off helping Luis Enrique’s men reach a Champions League final at the expense of Arsenal.
He could well be locking horns with the Gunners again very soon if a move to the Etihad comes to fruition, with City hopeful that a new presence in goal can work wonders, much like Vincent Kompany managed in defence over many celebrated years after joining way back in 2008.
Why Donnarumma could be the best defensive buy since Kompany
Obviously, it goes without saying that the Belgian centre-back is royalty in the light blue contingent of Manchester, with the now-retired defender a stalwart of many a successful City side even before Guardiola’s inspired arrival.
In total, the 89-time Belgium international would notch up a colossal 360 appearances for the Citizens, with a mammoth 167 wins also coming his way in the Premier League from 265 clashes.
A classy performer that was just designed for the big occasion, as is seen in his wonder goal versus Leicester City clinching his fourth and final top-flight success – Kompany also offered some much-needed defensive solidity in spades, with a bumper 94 clean sheets tallied up in Premier League action.
Donnarumma will hope he can walk into the building and be as transformative for City’s fortunes, with Ederson only keeping a weak ten clean sheets this campaign from 34 overall contests.
PSG
152
151
50
AC Milan
251
265
88
Italy
72
63
29
Whereas, the Italy captain – away from his heroics against Mikel Arteta’s men – has managed to pick up one more clean sheet than his City counterpart lining up for PSG, adding to his ever-growing career clean sheet total of 167 subsequently.
Once heralded as “world class” when starring for his nation by commentator Matteo Bonetti, Donnarumma’s addition to the ranks could also help City reclaim their authority as serial trophy winners, with the 26-year-old currently six trophies deep into his stay in the French capital, away from terrorising England during Italy’s 2021 Euro success.
Lauded further by Enrique as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, City would really show they mean business if they landed the alert ‘keeper.
Just remember the trophy-winning difference Alisson made at Liverpool; Donnarumma could be their equivalent in the present day, boosting Pep’s defence just as Kompany did all those years ago.
The next Sane: Man City looking at signing "special" £33m winger for Pep
Pep Guardiola might be about to land his next iteration of Leroy Sane with this Manchester City buy.
ByKelan SarsonMay 7, 2025