Donnarumma may have lifted the European Championship trophy, but on a purely individual basis, he experienced a below-par season, especially when measured against his own high standards. PSG’s choice to part ways with him is not entirely without reason.

In most areas, the Italian’s statistical output dropped. His save percentage fell from an elite 80.4% across all competitions to a respectable yet unremarkable 70.1%. He shifted from stopping 10 more goals than xG projections predicted to allowing one more than the average keeper would. His long-range passing accuracy also declined.

There were still plenty of top-class saves and he retains the rare ability to reach low shots with startling speed for his height, but this time Donnarumma performed closer to the average. His replacement at the Parc des Princes, Chevalier, clearly outshone him.

Even so, Donnarumma is just 26, and his levels have been exceptional for years, making it absurd to claim this was more than a brief dip. Manchester City are targeting a player widely regarded as one of the world’s best, capable of pulling off saves beyond most keepers. If they have decided to move on from Ederson, it’s hard to argue against Donnarumma as a world-class successor.

One can’t help but wonder about James Trafford’s reaction. The young stopper left City in search of regular football and surely returned for £27m believing he’d soon be Guardiola’s first choice. Waiting a year behind Ederson may have been acceptable, but the swift arrival of Donnarumma is surely a surprise.

And think of Newcastle United, too. They chased Trafford relentlessly, only to miss out – a recurring theme for them this summer – and now it appears one of their failed pursuits could be one the player himself might reconsider. At least Aaron Ramsdale is a worthy fallback option.

The move remains unofficial, though L’Equipe reported on Tuesday night that Donnarumma and City had agreed personal terms. Other outlets note that a fee still needs settling, with Fabrizio Romano claiming PSG’s €50m (£43.2m) valuation is seen as excessive. Some negotiating remains before the deal can be finalised.

Romano also reports that any agreement hinges on City finding a buyer for Ederson, with the club unwilling to keep him on £100,000 per week without game time.

That hurdle should be manageable. Galatasaray have tracked Ederson for months, and some sources claim they made a formal approach earlier this week. It’s also been suggested personal terms were settled in July. If that collapses, the Saudi Pro League could provide an alternative solution.

The bigger question may be whether any other Premier League contenders intervene. Both Manchester United and Chelsea were linked with Donnarumma soon after PSG moved for Chevalier.

Chelsea, it seems, are no longer interested, either happy with their current options or focused on other needs. Donnarumma also clashes with their youth-first, financially disciplined approach – he’d be their first over-25 signing since the current ownership began, and likely demand wages exceeding their stricter limits compared to the Abramovich years.

Manchester United might be tempted, but must sell players before further spending. If they offload names like Alejandro Garnacho or Antony, it’s more likely they’ll invest in a midfielder such as Carlos Baleba.

They would also have to find a buyer for André Onana, and so far there’s no solid interest at the right price. Saudi links exist but have yet to progress into talks. For now, Onana looks set to remain United’s number one in September.

All signs point to Manchester City starting the season with two new goalkeepers – one perhaps unhappy with the circumstances – while at least one Premier League rival will simply be eager for the window to close.