Mike Maignan on the Way to Chelsea: Chaos at Milan Brings the French Goalkeeper Closer to Stamford Bridge

The developments experienced in the Maignan-Chelsea process in the last week have brought the two sides back to the table. In the news published in Caught Offside under Ahad Shaukat's signature, it was reported that Chelsea has reignited interest in the Maignan transfer following the Calciomercato-sourced news in the Italian press, and that the transfer negotiations could come to a concrete stage. Last summer, Chelsea had made an offer of between 10-13 million Euros for Maignan to Milan, while Milan had demanded 30 million Euros for their player; this difference in figures caused the transfer to remain inconclusive. The signals that the picture could change this summer come from the Milan side; AC Milan demands a fee of around 50 million Euros for the player this summer, but the impact of the structural crisis on the transfer can be significant.

The managerial changes at Milan directly affect Maignan's future. According to Football Italia's news, the main reason that led Maignan to decide to stay at Milan disappeared with the departure of the two names that convinced him (former manager Massimiliano Allegri and goalkeeping coach Claudio Filippi) from Milan. In the detail conveyed by Daniele Longo, it was stated that Maignan is not satisfied with the direction of the club and is waiting for clear signals from the Milan management regarding his future. Milan owner Gerry Cardinale went to a total revision in the club after the heavy defeat to Cagliari; sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada, CEO Giorgio Furlani and manager Allegri left the club in a short time. Such a big management change led Maignan to question his future despite the contract he signed.

On the Chelsea side, Maignan is in the position of the main target for the goalkeeper position. The inability of Robert Sánchez and Filip Jørgensen to display a stable performance pushed Chelsea to a long-term number 1 search. In ESPN's TEAMtalk-sourced news, it was conveyed that Chelsea changed the Mike Penders plan together with Xabi Alonso and that Maignan came to the top of the list. Although alternatives such as Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Robin Roefs from Sunderland, Jordan Pickford from Everton, Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta and Diogo Costa from Porto are also on the list, Maignan's elite experience separates him from his rivals. Chelsea had won the UEFA Conference League championship last season and made a return to the UEFA Champions League; for Stamford Bridge to display an ambitious performance in Europe again, they need to find a long-term solution at the goalkeeper position. At this point, Maignan stands out as the sought-after profile with his performance of closing his goal without conceding in 70 of 187 matches he played at Milan in the last five years.

A few developments in the near future will determine Maignan's transfer fate. The French goalkeeper is currently continuing his preparations for the 2026 World Cup with Didier Deschamps in the France National Team squad; according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maignan is evaluating his future career decisions without rushing at the moment. Two conditions had been presented to Milan from the Maignan side: participation in the Champions League and Allegri remaining in his place. Since both conditions did not materialise, it is claimed that Maignan's motivation to stay at Milan has decreased. While Chelsea has taken action to evaluate this gap, it was stated that rivals such as Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Juventus could also be in the game. Whether AC Milan will sell Maignan for cash this summer and sit at the table with Chelsea will be the most critical agenda item of the coming weeks; the Stamford Bridge side has placed the French star at the top of the goalkeeper profile in Xabi Alonso's plans.

Source: Caught Offside 

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