Chelsea’s long-standing interest in a French star has yet to materialise into concrete talks, and the player’s current club are set on keeping him.
By all appearances, the January window will be a quiet one for the Blues.
The Antoine Semenyo links to Chelsea have died down, and the club have been clear about their intentions to focus on youth rather than first-team signings.
Chelsea could still sign a new attacker after cooling their interest in Antoine Semenyo. Who would you target, or are you content with Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens?
Antoine Semenyo in action during Sunderland v Bournemouth - Premier League
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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There is one senior player who has been on Chelsea’s radar for quite some time. However, his current club are increasingly confident that they will be able to stave off interest.
AC Milan doing their best to keep Mike Maignan amid Chelsea interest
When the summer window closed, many around Stamford Bridge were shocked that no goalkeeper signing was made.
The decision to keep Robert Sanchez has been justified this season, with the Spaniard looking more and more assured between the posts.
But that hasn’t killed the links to Mike Maignan.
Mike Maignan playing for AC Milan
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As recently as last month, reports suggested that Chelsea were working on a deal for Maignan. But confidence is growing in Milan that the Frenchman will stay.
On the current negotiations being carried out at the San Siro, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports: “The management, Allegri, and his teammates are doing everything they can to convince him to sign. And the Frenchman is flattered by the constant expressions of esteem he’s receiving.
“This doesn’t mean he’ll definitely stay, but there’s ongoing dialogue. The two sides will meet soon because, after the proposal of the last few days, it’s important to look each other in the eye and discuss. In the meantime, the captain is considering what, one way or another, will be a life choice. AC Milan are convinced they’ve done their best.”
An official offer has been made to Maignan that would make him one of the club’s highest-paid players. Milan feel as though they can do no more to convince him, and now patiently await his verdict.
The Maignan to Chelsea ship has sailed
When links to Maignan were first appearing, it was a move that excited Blues fans.
That said, the saga has dragged out far longer than anyone had expected, and it now feels a few months late, even if he is interested in joining.
The position that Chelsea MUST strengthen in 2026 is _ _ _ _ _ _
Chelsea owner Behdad Eghbali and directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart at Wolves game
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Maignan is 30, and Chelsea would have broken their strict age policy to bring him in, but we’re now nearing the point where Mike Penders will be coming to Stamford Bridge.
With Sanchez looking at his best and one of Europe’s top goalkeeping prospects arriving shortly, the Maignan move makes less sense with each passing week.
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