Chelsea have walked away from chasing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan with no intention of going back to the drawing board. Although they initially expressed interest and negotiated with Milan prior, the club has ruled out the transfer.
This comes out of concerns around his price and growing optimism in their in-house options. Sources at Stamford Bridge apparently confirmed two weeks ago that the negotiations collapsed.
The Blues were ready to offer £12–15 million for the French phenomenon, while Milan insisted on £20–25 million. Both clubs were not willing to bargain, and the transfer collapsed.
While Maignan himself once expressed that he had no issue being in the Premier League, Chelsea’s recruitment team under Enzo Maresca now looks elsewhere.
Chelsea Have In-House Options
The surprise twist is that Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen will still fight it out for the No. 1 spot at Stamford Bridge. Sources within the club concur that Maresca is pleased with the duo, stating there is no need to waste this window on another goalkeeper.
This situation allows the Blues to focus on other short-term vacancies elsewhere on the roster. They continue to seek a new striker and winger, with the 6’6″ German striker Nick Woltemade being included as a potential target for the transfer window. They’ve also registered striker Liam Delap, who was signed from Ipswich Town.
For Maignan, the door is ajar for now, but Chelsea are uncertain whether they would make the move for the goalkeeper in 2026. Notably, his contract ends next year, and Milan could allow him to see out his deal and leave on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, the Blues preparing to bring calm at the back and pace up front as they gear up for a busy season in the Premier League. Currently, they are in the USA at the ongoing Club World Cup, where they are pushing to get past the group stages.