Chelsea reportedly face crucial days ahead in their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, after already seeing one bid rejected. The France stopper is entering the last year of his contract at the San Siro and has been viewed as a market opportunity at a bargain price.
The Blues’ issues between the posts have been well documented, with Enzo Maresca’s number one Robert Sanchez suffering a number of high-profile calamities throughout the season. Filip Jorgensen deputised in the UEFA Conference League.
Calciomercato claim that Milan rejected Chelsea’s first offer for Maignan, deemed too low at below £16m. Chelsea will return with a make-or-break second offer on either Monday or Tuesday and are prepared to walk away if that improved bid is not accepted.
Maignan is open to the move, though he is currently focusing on France’s second international match of the break, a Nations League third-place play-off with Germany on Sunday.
However, news that Chelsea are looking to bring in a goalkeeper of Maignan’s stature will come as a blow to five stoppers already on the books with their eyes likely on a starting role next season.
Sanchez will hope to retain Maresca’s faith and prove that he deserves the jersey, but there are a host of players looking to challenge the former Brighton man.
Jorgensen impressed en route to Conference League glory and will feel that he has given Maresca a decision to make.
Multiple goalkeepers out on loan have impressed with their respective clubs and are set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer. Mike Penders was signed for £16.8m a year ago from Genk and remained in Belgium for the season, where he has impressed and is expected to be part of Chelsea’s squad for the Club World Cup.
He will look to make an impression in addition to Serbian stopper Djordje Petrovic, who spent the season with sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and was named their player of the year.
Gabriel Slonina, similarly, was sent out on loan to Barnsley only to be recalled in January due to an injury. He put in some strong performances with the League One side and will hope to stake a claim in pre-season.
All five goalkeepers would see their hopes dashed if another goalkeeper joins, in the form of Maignan, and becomes the new number one.