Chelsea: Gianluigi Donnarumma would be a gold-plated buy

Chelsea has recently been linked to another seismic transfer, this time to Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 21-year-old phenom.

Chelsea needs a new keeper to complete the kickstarting of a revolution under Frank Lampard. After a rather disappointing between the sticks, Kepa Arrizabalaga is rumored to be on his way out; Europe’s most promising and talented keepers are being linked as a result. A great fit for the role would be AC Milan wonder-kid Gianluigi Donnarumma. Reports out of Italy are saying Chelsea is exploring the possibility with the keeper’s agent, Mino Raiola,

With years of big-time experience—yet still only 21 years old—Milan’s No. 1 keeper would be a perfect addition to the emerging Chelsea steamroller, poised to roll with the best in the UK and Europe next season. It would be a tremendous signing as he’s the world class keeper the Blues have been missing.

The Blues are two players away from completing a dream reconstruction that fans and observers have been hoping for in this transfer window. One of those two players is the versatile emerging star and leader, West Ham’s Declan Rice, and the other is a keeper. Donnarumma is a welcome addition to almost any team in the world, but it’s a fantasy for Chelsea.

The young keeper has been a mainstay at Milan in goal for years and since his contract runs out after the upcoming season, Milan may look to cash in now before his value declines. The club has been on a mega-spending spree as of late, but the assumed large fee could be reduced with the addition of a makeweight like current Blues keeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and/or the loan of other players.

Donnarumma has been capped by the Italian National Team 16 times in his young career. His international experience would be a solid asset as he would be charged to beat clubs loaded with top international talent. Another asset that cannot be taught is a natural one, Donnarumma’s height. He stands 6-foot-4 (1.96 meters) tall. For fans and observers who feel that the taller the better for a keeper, Donnarumma fits the bill perfectly. Certainly, he could learn much under the tutelage of Petr Cech, who grazes the pitch at Cobham on occasion as a part of his role with the club.

Donnarumma allowed just 42 goals in 36 starts last season for a sixth-place Milan team; up from 32 the previous year for a fifth-place Milan. While not an extraordinary record, even in the worst of these two latest seasons, his record is clearly superior to the keeper record at Chelsea last season. Chelsea keepers surrendered 54 goals last season to Premier League opponents. Assuming Donnarumma’s performance next season would be the average of the past two seasons, his surrendering 37 goals would be a huge advance of 17 fewer goals against over the Chelsea keeper situation last year. This is a substantial improvement, yet, that shouldn’t be the best that he could achieve.

With Chelsea’s upgrades in defense with Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell, that aspect of the club should be well advanced over the prior season’s version without a doubt. That improvement means wins, not to mention the likely increase in the offensive goal tally. Chelsea’s considerably more talented, dynamic and powerful attack will score a significant amount of goals, but the club still needs a new keeper.

There are several keepers available who have the ability and experience to lead Chelsea to Premier League titles and glory in Europe. The club needs only one, and if he is available at a reasonable cost, Donnarumma could definitely be that one.