Manchester City Transfer News: Latest on Gianluigi Donnarumma, Top Rumours

Manchester City are reportedly leading the race to sign AC Milan's teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Citizens also face competition for the 17-year-old stopper from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea.

Italian source CalcioMercato (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star) noted how Donnarumma's contract situation is enticing City to show interest: "Donnarumma, 17, is out of contract at the San Siro in 2018. Negotiations over a new deal are ongoing—but they've been dragging on and City look ready to pounce."

Donnarumma has drawn rave reviews since he began tending goal for the Rossoneri as a 16-year-old. He's rightly seen as the brightest young thing in Serie A.

The youthful stopper has continued to show his awesome potential and raw talent this season, according to Squawka:

Naturally, there are those who wouldn't want to see Donnarumma leave Italy's top flight. Among them is Juventus' marquee 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The man Donnarumma is expected to succeed at international level, recently made his feelings clear about what the younger player should do next:

Of course, it makes sense for City to still be keen. Manager Pep Guardiola has been working to refresh the team's options between the sticks since he took over in the summer.

Guardiola's solution was to send England No. 1 Joe Hart on loan to Torino and replace him with Claudio Bravo. However, Bravo is 33, while back-up Willy Caballero is 35.

Bravo has also experienced his struggles since arriving in the Premier League. In fact, Guardiola has been forced to publicly defend the Chilean more than once.

Securing a precocious star of the future would surely ease Guardiola's doubts about his options at the position. Donnarumma is worth a major investment from City.

Juve to Resist Offers for Young Full-Back

Donnarumma isn't the only young star from Serie A City are keen to acquire. The Manchester club have also reportedly declared interest in 19-year-old full-back Pol Lirola, interest parent club Juventus are set to reject.

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According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport and Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football-Italia.net), Juve will reject offers from both City and Barca for the player on loan at Sassuolo.

Lirola is on a two-year loan stint with Sassuolo, according to the reports. But Juventus are obviously keen to make sure he eventually realises his potential in Turin, rather than away from Italy.

Similar to the situation in goal, it's easy to see why Guardiola and City would be pursuing a younger right-back. Bacary Sagna is 33, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31.

Guardiola has already shown a keenness to make City younger at key positions. He signed 20-year-old forward Leroy Sane and 22-year-old centre-back John Stones this summer.

The latest rumours show the Spaniard remains committed to that plan.