Liverpool has been urged to make a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer. According to recent reports, the Reds has been encouraged by Liverpool legend Steve Nicol to make a swoop for the Italian teenager’s signature at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old shot-stopper can be considered as one of the brightest prospects in world football. In a recent edition of ESPN FC, former Liverpool player Steve Nicol was quoted to have said, “I would have no problem with him [Roma keeper Alisson], I would have no problem if they can get the likes of Donnarumma who would be a goalkeeper for the next decade,”
“It is a weak spot, again as good as Karius has been recently, he’s not the finished article by a long way.”
Donnarumma has featured in 42 matches for AC Milan this season, conceding just 41 goals while keeping 19 clean sheets in all competitions. The Italian youngster is a product of Milan’s academy and has impressed since breaking into Gennaro Gattuso’s first-team earlier this year. Only time will tell whether the Reds show interest in recruiting the talented starlet in the near future.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently sitting in the 3rd position in the Premier League table after their emphatic 5-0 victory over Watford earlier this month. The Merseyside outfit find themselves just above Tottenham Hotspur, who are in fourth place with a two-point gap separating the two teams at the moment. However, the Reds are a massive 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City going into the final stretch of the season.
Liverpool have defensively leaked in some cheap goals during the course of this campaign. The Reds’ goalkeeping duo of Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius has shipped in 34 goals in 30 Premier League matches. The acquisition of Donnarumma might be a significant upgrade over the duo going into, what is expected to be another extremely competitive Premier League season, next term. At 19, the Italian international already has a wealth of experience at the top level and coupled with the fact that he is yet to reach his peak years, the Reds could look to utilise his talents for years to come.
Donnarumma has put in some sensational displays for AC Milan during the course of this campaign but the jury is still out whether he can cope with the physicality and high intensity of the Premier League. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Donnarumma and whether he ends up making a switch to Anfield in the coming years.
