Chelsea have now sent a new bid to AC Milan in order to sign Mike Maignan before the Club World Cup deadline, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
After a relatively successful season under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea are now all guns blazing on the transfer front, a side determined to conclude two more deals by the end of Tuesday.
Just like Manchester City, Chelsea are aiming to secure deals for some of their long-term targets very early in the window in order for them to feature at the Club World Cup.
And given that Maresca is unhappy with his options in goal, Chelsea are pushing to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan.
Mike Maignan has been brilliant in Serie A for some time, and the France international is keen to head to west London.
Chelsea make fresh bid to sign Mike Maignan before Tuesday’s deadline
Unfortunately for Maresca, his side are yet to agree a fee with AC Milan and Chelsea’s £15m opening offer for Maignan was rejected.
However, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can now reveal that Chelsea have returned with an £18m bid, one that is closer to Milan’s asking price.
Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
READ MORE: Mike Maignan’s explosive ‘rant’ at France teammates proves why he’s the perfect signing for Chelsea
Chelsea have upped their offer and they are looking to finalise his move on Tuesday.
Now, it’s understood that a deal is ‘within sight’ for Maignan following Chelsea’s latest bid.
The France international has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, a goalkeeper with his 12 months left on his contract.
Maignan is seen as the ideal man to come in and solve Chelsea’s goalkeeper issue, a 29-year-old with a lot of experience at the top level.
And following Chelsea’s push to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the Blues are hoping to have both deals concluded by the end of Tuesday.
Liverpool’s Alisson called Maignan ‘one of the best in the world’
Of course, some Chelsea fans who don’t often watch Italian football would be forgiven for not knowing what to expect from Maignan if he does sign.
But when speaking ahead of Liverpool facing Milan in the Champions League at the start of last season, Alisson Becker perhaps outlined everything Chelsea fans now need to know.
Celebrating his fellow goalkeeper, Alisson said: “He has been at the best level for five years now. He has been good since he arrived at AC Milan; he is good for the France national team.
“He has perfectly replaced a great goalkeeper, a world champion in Hugo Lloris. It isn’t easy but he has done very well.
“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world.
“The quality of goalkeepers has really increased – Mike Maignan is within this elite.”