The race for Gigio's successor begins: Ligue 1 custodian is top contender
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 28.07.25. | 11:08
Chevalier himself is reportedly keen on the move to the reigning European champions
What happened in Milan is now unfolding in Paris. As Gianluigi Donnarumma approaches the final year of his contract, Paris Saint-Germain has been forced to act and begin the search for his successor.
The choice is now all but confirmed - PSG has set its sights on Lille's Lucas Chevalier. According to L'Equipe, the Parisians will submit an official bid today, reportedly just under €40 million.
Everyone involved knows that offer won't be enough. Lille has made it clear they won't settle for anything less than €40 million. Moreover, they won't let the 23-year-old goalkeeper leave until they secure a replacement. Still, with an official offer on the table, the search can now begin.
Chevalier himself is reportedly keen on the move to the reigning European champions, especially amid growing speculation that Donnarumma could leave at the end of the season. Contract talks between the Italian international and PSG have dragged on for months. The club has proposed a salary package of €8 million fixed plus bonuses, but his agent, Enzo Raiola, is holding out for a raise - to €15 million annually - plus his own cut, of course.
Paris hasn't forgotten how it snatched Donnarumma from Milan under similar circumstances, and now the club is preparing for all scenarios. There's a suspicion that Donnarumma already has offers on the table. Inter Milan would welcome him back to Italy, Bayern Munich could be in the market for a successor to Manuel Neuer, and Manchester City was previously interested - although they've just signed Burnley's James Trafford for €31 million. The Englishman is undergoing medicals today.
Still, Donnarumma is in no hurry. He has a year left on his contract, and after a stellar 2023/24 season, it's hard to imagine anyone pushing him off the starting line.
That said, if you ask the French - last season's best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 wasn't Donnarumma, but Chevalier. The young Lille shot-stopper has proven he's more than capable.
And if Chevalier leaves, what's next for Lille? Several names have surfaced. Robin Roef from NEC Nijmegen is one option. Toulouse's Guillaume Restes has also been mentioned, along with Coventry’s Oliver Dovey - though he suffered an injury in April. Olympique Marseille's backup keeper Joffrey de Lange is another possibility. However, current reports suggest Tottenham's Antonin Kinsky is the frontrunner. The Czech keeper could arrive on a one-year loan, having only joined Spurs from Slavia Prague six months ago.
