Milan has 'plan B' if Donnarumma departs

AC Milan chief executive Marco Fassone revealed that the Italian side is prepared for the possible departure of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The highly touted goalkeeper has reportedly caught the attention of Europe's elite football clubs after appearing in over 70 matches at just 18 years old.

Juventus, Real Madrid, and Manchester United are just some of the teams believed to covet the Italian international.

Despite Milan's resistance to part with the teenage prodigy, Fassone conceded that Donnarumma's future at the club is not a foregone conclusion, but revealed the team has prepared a backup plan.

"There is hope we will keep him, but we are not only dealing with matters of the heart but with contract issues," he told Gazzetta dello Sport, as translated by the Press Association.

"When we met him and his agent (Mino Raiola) we confirmed our desire to keep him and his eyes betrayed his desire to stay with us. We are expecting a short answer.

"Our intention is not to sell him but, if that happened, we are thinking about a plan B."

Signing Donnarumma has been a priority throughout the season that just passed, with Fassone saying in April that he hopes an agreement can be reached in order for the netminder to become "a pillar for our future."

Donnarumma - who became the youngest goalkeeper to feature in a match for Italy when, at the age of 17, he replaced Gianluigi Buffon during a friendly in September against France - appeared in all of Milan's 38 league matches and managed to finish among the Serie A leaders with 12 clean sheets.