Chelsea is reportedly in discussions with AC Milan regarding a potential transfer for goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The 29-year-old French international`s contract in Italy expires in just one year, and new terms have not yet been agreed upon by either side.
This contractual stalemate at San Siro, coupled with AC Milan`s failure to qualify for Europe (as per the source text), has reportedly caught the attention of the Blues.
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is said to view the goalkeeper, valued at £34 million, as a perfect fit for his preferred possession-focused style of play.
The club based at Stamford Bridge currently has five goalkeepers under contract: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic, Mike Penders, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
However, the potential signing of Maignan would introduce strong competition for the primary goalkeeper position, leading to another change in the team`s goalkeeping hierarchy.
Many Chelsea supporters have expressed a desire for a new first-choice goalkeeper, as neither Sanchez nor Jorgensen has consistently established themselves as the undisputed starter.
Born in French Guiana, Maignan was instrumental in Lille winning the French league title in 2021.
The following year, he secured the Serie A title with AC Milan.
He has made a total of 163 appearances for the Italian side. Last season, he was credited with four errors directly leading to goals, one fewer than Robert Sanchez`s five.
AC Milan may consider selling him now to avoid the risk of losing him for free when his contract expires in 2026.
Maignan has earned 30 caps for the French national team and was included in the Euro 2024 team of the tournament (according to the source).
