Most Chelsea fans wanted the club to sign a goalkeeper this summer. And it looks like the Blues are set to deliver, as they are pushing to bring in Mike Maignan. The French international has only a year left on his current deal at AC Milan and an extension does not seem to be in sight. As a result, he could be available for a bargain transfer fee this summer.
Not too long ago, Maignan was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His performances have dipped lately, compared to those lofty highs. But one has to wonder if the contract situation has had something to do with.
On top of his game, Maignan is a phenomenal goalkeeper. Also, one cannot overlook the intangibles like experience and leadership quality that he would bring to this Chelsea team.
As reported by The Mirror, Chelsea are closing in on the £15m signing of Maignan in time for the FIFA Club World Cup. The Blues had offered Djordje Petrovic or Kepa as part of the deal but are now set to pay a straight transfer fee.
Chelsea offered fan favourite as part of Mike Maignan deal
There are many Chelsea fans who believe that Petrovic should have been the number one ahead of Robert Sanchez last season. And they were proven somewhat right, based on his performances on loan at Strasbourg.
Petrovic was named the Best RC Strasbourg player for the 2024–25 season, as voted by the club's supporters. He was also nominated for the Ligue 1 Best Goalkeeper award for the campaign.
Yet, it looks like Chelsea do not view him as a long-term option between the posts. Instead, they are going out for Maignan.
One cannot completely forget about Sanchez in all of this, either. He was phenomenal in the last portion of the season and a key reason behind Chelsea making a top-four finish. If he can cut out the errors in his game and perform like that on a consistent basis, he would have to be considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Sanchez has always been an excellent shot-stopper and also a commanding presence in the box, thanks to his size. But unfortunately, he does have a habit of getting himself into trouble at times, with poor passing or lapses of concentration.