Chelsea finished 4th in the Premier League last season, securing a return to the Champions League.
The Blues are looking to bolster their squad this summer in hopes of mounting a stronger challenge both domestically and in Europe.
One area Enzo Maresca is especially keen to reinforce at Chelsea is their goalkeeping department.
They’re exploring options to move on from their current first-choice Spaniard, Robert Sanchez, in search of more reliability between the posts.
France’s number one, Mike Maignan, has emerged as a key target for Chelsea, viewed as a potential upgrade on Sanchez.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Chelsea want Mike Maignan but are unwilling to pay more than £12.6m
However, according to Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol, the Blues are unwilling to go beyond £12.6 million for the AC Milan shot-stopper.
The journalist noted that the club’s stance is influenced by Maignan’s age, since he turns 30 next month, and his contract situation, with only a year remaining on his current deal.
With the option to sign him on a free transfer next summer, Chelsea see little value in overpaying.
While Maignan is reportedly keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, Milan’s €20–25m asking price remains a significant hurdle, making a deal unlikely unless their valuation comes down.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Solhekol said:
“Well look Chelsea have let it be known that they are willing to pay a maximum of €15m to AC Milan for Mike.
“Now that is about £12.6m. Now, they have not made a bid for the player, but they’ve let it be known that is the top price we’ll pay.
“Now, he’s France’s number one goalkeeper, but the reason Chelsea will not pay more than £12.6m is because he’s going to be 30 next month. And also, he’s just got one year left on his contract.
“So, if he doesn’t sign a new contract with AC Milan, doesn’t look like he will at the moment, he will be available on a free transfer next summer. Chelsea think it doesn’t make sense to pay more than £12.6m for somebody who they could speak to in January and potentially sign for nothing in the summer, especially because they’re happy with the goalkeepers they have.
“Now, I think Mike himself wants to move to Chelsea. But our colleagues at Sky in Italy have been saying that AC Milan want €20–25m for him. If AC Milan stick to that position, then the deal is not going to happen.
And I don’t think we’re in a situation where Chelsea just going to make bids for players uh because it would be a waste of time. AC Milan would just reject the bids.
“I think Chelsea just let it be known. ‘This is what we’ll offer. Okay, if you’re interested, let’s talk some more and then we’ll make an official bid. Or we might not even need to make a bid. Will just agree a price and we can have the player before the deadline on Tuesday night so he can join us for the Club World Cup’.”
Roberto Sanchez’s error-ridden Chelsea stint
Chelsea’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper is largely driven by the inconsistency of Sanchez. The 27-year-old joined from Brighton in the summer of 2023 for an initial £20 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, signing a seven-year contract.
While he showed early promise, Sanchez’s form has dipped considerably. He registered a league-high five errors leading to goals this past season, making him the most error-prone goalkeeper in the league, a stat that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Several high-profile mistakes, particularly against Manchester City, Wolves, and Arsenal, have directly cost Chelsea points. Beyond poor decision-making, his handling and distribution have also drawn criticism.
Sanchez conceded 37 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions last season, with performances that remained unconvincing.