Maresca wants a new goalkeeperMaresca wants a new goalkeeper
Maresca wants a new goalkeeper | Getty Images
Chelsea are said to be pushing for a deal to sign a new goalkeeper in the near future.
Liam Delap has already been snapped up, arriving from Ipswich Town for £30million, but Enzo Maresca will also want to upgrade a number of other areas between now and the end of the summer. Chelsea have until June 10 to wrap up any early business before the Club World Cup, while the usual summer window will open later in the off-season.
Chelsea will do much of their business in the latter, but they do seem to want to get a new goalkeeper in by the time they kick off in the United States. AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan is said to be the target, with the stopper now heading into the final year of his contract.
Maignan has had a contract offer on the table for some time, but it seems he is interested in moving on unless Milan want to commit more cash to his deal. Chelsea are said to be confident of agreeing a deal with the player, but there have been reports that they are still some way apart on the valuation after talks with AC Milan. Fabrizio Romano has issued another update on the situation, suggesting the Blues are still pushing for an agreement.
“Enzo Maresca has also approved this potential move as he’d like to have a new goalkeeper for the new season with Champions League football and also the FIFA Club World Cup due to start soon,” he told Give Me Sport.
“It’s important to clarify that Chelsea believe they can reach an agreement on the salary with Maignan, with contacts to follow; but also that Mike Penders, the young goalkeeper signed last summer from Belgium, remains a crucial part of Chelsea’s plans for the future.”
What the update says of Chelsea’s plan for Sanchez
With Penders reportedly a big part of Chelsea’s plans and Filip Jorgensen a recent investment as a number two or three, there would be no place for Robert Sanchez if the Blues do sign Maignan or another starting keeper.
Chelsea boss Maresca has been a little critical of Sanchez in the past, though the Spaniard did improve in the second half of the season just gone. Maresca said back in January after a Sanchez error: "For sure, that is not very good for his confidence, but also Robert is a professional who has to learn to deal with that kind of moment. It's experience for him. He has to improve also to deal with that kind of moment during a game at home where the fans, for any reason, are not happy. He has to manage that moment.
"I didn't speak with Robert. I consider that kind of moment part of our job. You have to learn that you have to deal with that. It's already happened in the past with Robert, and he did quite well. He's getting better, but he’s still far, far, far from where I want him to be.
"I'm not thinking about the seasons coming. I'm thinking about this season. For this season? No doubt [Sanchez will keep his place]. But then in the future, we don't know. It is not only about Robert. It is not even about me, you know? I'm focused on this moment, this season. Since we started, Robert is getting better, but he is still far, far, far from where I want him to be."
It’s important to note that Maresca has been more complimentary since then, but there have been reports aplenty claiming the Italian is not fully convinced, and the pursuit of Maignan only highlights the truth of such claims. Sanchez may not be willing to be a number two, and the truth is that the Blues don’t need one.
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