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AC Milan's teenage goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma turning down a new deal at the Serie A giant has not gone down well in Italy. But his impending departure from the Rossoneri could hasten Vito Mannone's exit from Sunderland.
Donnarumma has reportedly rejected four contract offers from Milan - a decision which has led to death threats and him being pelted with fake money as he turned out for the Italian Under-21s last night.
But with the Serie A giants pondering an imminent move for Genoa's Mattia Perin to replace their 18-year-old want-away star, that may mean Sunderland's Mannone will enter the Italian goalkeeping merry-go-round which is about to spin.
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Italian international goalkeeper Perin is thought to be on the verge of being unveiled at Milan as he seeks to essentially guarantee himself a spot at the 2018 World Cup by signing for one of the biggest clubs in Serie A.
And so Mannone is said to be one of three options Genoa will consider to replace him, the other two being Cortone's 33-year-old Alex Cordaz and Aston Villa's Pierluigi Gollini who was on loan at Atalanta last season.
Gollini made way for Sunderland target Sam Johnstone at Villa Park. Unconvinced by him, Steve Bruce allowed the 22-year-old to return to Italy.
As for Johnstone, the Manchester United goalkeeper enjoyed a good spell in the West Midlands last season and has a host of admirers hoping to lure him from Old Trafford this summer.
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Mannone certainly looks set to depart Sunderland in the coming weeks. The Black Cats resisted any bids for him during the January transfer window but there have been suggestions that David Moyes told the 28-year-old he would be sold this summer. However, with the dour Scot now little more than a bad memory, the Italian 'keeper may yet have a future on Wearside.
With Jordan Pickford having now left, Mannone may have as good a chance as anyone of reestablishing himself as the Black Cats' number one next season in the Championship.
Mannone has also been linked with a move to Watford and Atalanta this summer. And the latter would prove a great opportunity for him with Europa League football heading to Bergamo next season after a fifth-place finish in Serie A.
Elsewhere, despite gossip suggesting Fabio Borini is a target for AC Milan, reports in Italy over the weekend claimed there has been no contact between Sunderland, the player's agent and the Rossoneri hierarchy.
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There had been suggestions Borini's representative Roberto De Fanti had headed for Milan a couple of weeks ago to discuss a prospective move for the 26-year-old forward.
But with the former Black Cats Director of Football acting as agent for other clients on the cusp of moves in and out of the San Siro, it seems his negotiations had nothing to do with Borini.
With Milan awash with money this summer from their new Chinese owners, they likely have bigger prospects on the go than Borini at present. Celtic's Moussa Dembele remains a target and the Serie A side have just splashed out £35m on striker Andre Silva. They're also said to be in talks with Schalke winger Yevhen Konoplyanka.