Chelsea Transfer News: Gianluigi Donnarumma Price Set

Chelsea have been told they'd have to pay as much as £119 million to firm up their interest in teenage AC Milan goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The 16-year-old stopper's agent, Mino Raiola, has slapped the eye-popping fee on one of the breakout stars of European football this season.

It's bad news for the Blues, who have reportedly been tracking Donnarumma alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United, according to Italian website Calciomercato.com (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star).

The same report states Donnarumma may not even be ready to leave Italian top-flight football just yet. "But it's thought Donnarumma is happy in Milan and will reject any offers from abroad."

Speaking to Mediaset Premium (h/t Goal.com's Mark Doyle), Raiola stated his belief in his client's bright future. "I'd compare him to a [piece by Italian artist Amadeo] Modigliani. He's worth 170 million."

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Any 16-year-old goalkeeper already starting for one of the grandest names in European football is bound to turn heads. Raiola is exploiting that fact. But his lofty valuation is real pie-in-the-sky stuff.

It's not that both Chelsea and United don't make sense as potential suitors. The latter won't want another protracted transfer saga involving David de Gea and Real Madrid, like the one that dragged on in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Blues' so far stunted Premier League title defence has been undermined by the injury enforced absence of 'keeper Thibaut Courtois. Without the Belgian between the posts, Chelsea's defence has been breached 23 times in domestic action, according to the league's official site.

Asmir Begovic hasn't proved a particularly solid deputy. Boss Jose Mourinho would be wise to recruit an understudy with more potential for improvement than the 28-year-old.

If he signed Donnarumma, it would be a rare moment when Mourinho showed he had an eye on Chelsea's future over present glories. This isn't a manager who usually favours young players, even one as gifted as Donnarumma.

There's no denying his obvious talent and promise. He's pushed aside former Madrid stopper Diego Lopez, a very capable veteran, just to get into the team.

Writing for the Guardian, Paolo Bandini, who also noted how "Raiola is not shy of overselling his clients," described the expectations Milan have for their youthful star.

"

His selection had been pre-announced by Sinisa Mihajlovic, provoking both excitement and anxiety among Milan’s supporters. Donnarumma was a highly-touted prospect, one whom had been described by his former Italy Under-17 coach Bruno Tedino as a 'predestinato' and 'the national team goalkeeper of the future', but was he ready for this responsibility?

"

Whatever the motivation, Chelsea, like any other potential buyer, would be wise to see how Donnarumma develops, particularly once the hype goes quiet. After all, the precocious goalie has only made a mere six appearances for the Rossoneri this season, according to WhoScored.com.

It's going to take many more starts and emphatic displays for Donnarumma to live up to his agent's lavish valuation. Until then, Chelsea will no doubt look elsewhere should Mourinho choose to add to his options between the sticks.