Chelsea Hit a Roadblock in Signing AC Milan Goalkeeper Mike Maignan
Chelsea's pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan faces a setback as the Italian club progresses towards securing the player with a new contract.
Chelsea are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as the Italian giants edge closer to tying their captain down to a new contract. Maignan was a transfer target for the Blues last summer and they were expected to renew their interest this year given the Frenchman would be available on a free transfer. However, Milan are now in advanced talks to keep the highly-rated stopper at San Siro.Maignan had been widely expected to walk away from Milan in the summer when his current deal expires, with little in the way of progress in contract talks in 2025. However, it seems the Rossoneri have finally made a breakthrough amid their determination to keep the 30-year-old. According to Fabrice Hawkins, the player is now in advanced negotiations to extend his stay at the club by another five years, although no final agreement has been reached as yet.The news will come as significant blow to Chelsea, who had seemingly earmarked the highly-rated stopper to become their new first-choice goalkeeper once he had come to the end of his time at San Siro. In the summer of 2025, the Blues pushed hard to sign Maignan before the Club World Cup in the United States, seeing a lowball €15 million (£13m/$17.5m) offer rejected ahead of the tournament. It was reported at the time that the player was keen on the move, but Milan held firm and the west Londoners didn't revisit their interest later in the summer. It's said that Massimiliano Allegri played a role in keeping hold of the club's skipper having just taken the reins at the time.Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani denied claims that Maignan had tried to force his way out, saying: "There was interest from an English club, it was not considered an interesting interest from the club's point of view. Mike was and is an important player for Milan, and his agent was also very correct. There was openness to this interest but at the same time there was an interest on their part, not a forcing or a push, to stay at Milan. Then in the medium-long term future, those who live will see."Juventus have also since been credited with an interest. In an update in December, Milan's sporting director Igli Tare said: "We have never talked about numbers. Talking about Mike is easy, he is an extraordinary boy and a great leader. He likes being at Milan and Milan likes him being here, but now let's think about the game and then we will talk about it."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingWhile Maignan is not guaranteed to commit his future to the Rossoneri, it looks likely that Chelsea will have to turn their attentions elsewhere when it comes to levelling up their goalkeeping department. Much-maligned current No.1 Robert Sanchez has seen his stock rise over the last year or so, but the position is still widely viewed as a weak point that needs to be strengthened. Whether incoming Blues head coach Liam Rosenior shares that view remains to be seen. He will be watching on closely from the stands when his new club make the short journey to face Fulham in a west London derby on Wednesday night.
AC Milan Set to Extend Contract with Mike Maignan
Chelsea's hopes of landing Mike Maignan have been dashed as AC Milan is on the verge of finalizing a new long-term deal with the highly-rated goalkeeper. Despite speculations of the Frenchman leaving on a free transfer, Milan has made significant progress in negotiations to retain their captain, disappointing the Blues.
Previous Interest from Chelsea
Last summer, Chelsea made a bid for Maignan, aiming to secure him as their new first-choice goalkeeper. However, Milan rebuffed the offer, and with the recent developments of contract talks, it seems Maignan is likely to stay at San Siro, leaving Chelsea to explore other options to strengthen their goalkeeping department.
Milan's Stance and Player's Interest
AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani mentioned that while there was interest from an English club, the club valued Maignan's presence and the player also expressed a desire to remain at Milan. Juventus has also shown interest, keeping the goalkeeper's future open for speculation.
Challenges for Chelsea
With Maignan potentially extending his stay at Milan, Chelsea may need to rethink their goalkeeper targets. Robert Sanchez, the current first-choice keeper, has shown improvement, but there is consensus that the position requires reinforcement. New head coach Liam Rosenior will have to assess and address this area for Chelsea's future success.
Next Steps for Chelsea
As Chelsea faces the setback of missing out on Mike Maignan, the club will need to swiftly identify alternative options to strengthen their goalkeeping setup. With a critical need to solidify this position, Chelsea's scouting and recruitment team will have an important task ahead to secure a suitable replacement.









