Chelsea transfer news: The Blues are back in for Mike Maignan
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea’s pursuit of Mike Maignan has refused to go away, and this summer, the circumstances at the San Siro may finally force the issue. According to Italian outlet Calciomercato.it, as relayed by Sport Witness, Chelsea are “still hot” for the French goalkeeper and are “ready to make an offer” for him. Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also interested, turning this into a genuine three-way contest. AC Milan value the 30-year-old at €50 million, a fee that would considerably ease the financial strain left behind by the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea transfer news background: A saga that keeps running
The story began last summer, when Maignan was in the final stretch of his contract, and Chelsea saw a rare opening. Allegri, then Milan’s manager, persuaded him to stay. In January 2026, Maignan signed a new deal through 2031, and the noise died down. Then Milan sacked Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada all in one go following their Champions League exit, and suddenly the situation shifted.
MilanLive.it reported that both Chelsea and United had begun gathering information on the goalkeeper. With Milan needing to raise funds and Allegri’s influence now gone, Maignan’s future is described as being in “serious doubt.” He kept 16 clean sheets in 41 appearances this season, his value listed at €25 million on Transfermarkt, though Milan’s asking price sits at double that.
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This is where it gets interesting. TEAMtalk reports that Maignan remains the best option on Chelsea’s six-man shortlist and that Alonso’s arrival has reshuffled the entire goalkeeping plan. Mike Penders, once expected to step into the senior setup, is no longer on course to become the first choice following Alonso’s appointment.
Sanchez has let in 47 goals in 35 Premier League appearances while keeping just nine clean sheets this season, numbers that do not inspire confidence. Alonso’s well-documented preference for building from the back requires a calm, ball-playing goalkeeper who can break the press with precision, and Sanchez simply does not fit that description.
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Maignan does. He reads the game early, distributes cleanly, and carries genuine authority. The €50 million fee is steep given Chelsea’s transfer model, but this feels like the rare exception where experience and tactical fit justify the cost. Under Alonso, Chelsea need a goalkeeper, not a project. Maignan is that goalkeeper. This move, while competitive, is entirely realistic and arguably necessary.