Chelsea will reportedly sign Mike Maignan before the transfer window closes on Tuesday for the Club World Cup.
football.london understands the Blues approached Milan about the France international earlier this week, and talks with the Italian club, who Maignan captains, have been ongoing ever since. The player has been on their radar for multiple years and is approaching the final 12 months of his current contract.
Chelsea see the current situation as an opportunity to acquire a world-class goalkeeper this summer. He was named in the European Championship team of the tournament last summer and has twice made the Serie A team of the year.
football.london understands Milan were demanding £25million, a price the club had reservations over due to the player's age - Maignan turns 30 next month - and contractual situation. La Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that the expectation is they will reach a compromise of €18million (£15million).
The Blues are also said to have tried including Djordje Petrovic or Kepa Arrizabalaga in any deal. Milan are said to have Mile Svilar of Roma, who was named best goalkeeper in Serie A last season, as their top target to replace Maignan, with Elia Caprile and Zion Suzuki as alternatives.
Gazzetta claims it is a "matter of days, maybe hours" before the deal is done, with Chelsea wanting the goalkeeper registered for the Club World Cup. Milan have reputedly given in after tough negotiations due to the player wanting to leave.
Recent contract talks are said to have left Maignan disappointed. They allegedly agreed on a €5million, four-year extension, only for the club to backtrack because of the player's performance and physical condition over the final months of the season.
The newly-reappointed Milan head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, is said to have tried to convince the goalkeeper to stay. He reputedly would have been happy for Maignan to stay, but the feeling is seemingly not mutual.