Chelsea are ready to bid for the ‘elite’ Man United target to join last summer
Chelsea are ready to bid for the ‘elite’ Man United target to join last summer, according to reports.
Xabi Alonso’s time at Stamford Bridge hasn’t started yet, but the transfer machine is already in motion.
Since his appointment on May 17, Chelsea’s summer shortlist has been growing by the day.
Enzo Fernández’s future remains unresolved, with Real Madrid and Man City lurking.
Marc Cucurella is also expected to leave Chelsea, while Lewis Hall has been identified as a possible replacement (Simon Phillips).
Levi Colwill is apparently sparking interest from Real and Barcelona, inparts in the future.
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Arne Slot won the race.
Jarrod Bowen has also emerged as a transfer option given his desire to stay in London if he moves elsewhere, with West Ham’s relegation confirmed.
Now, the goalkeeper’s position is back in focus, and the standard target is in the middle of it.
Chelsea are ready to make a bid for AC Milan star Mike Maignan
According to Calciomercato, Chelsea are ready to make a bid for AC Milan captain Mike Maignan.
The 30-year-old Frenchman has been one of the best goalkeepers in European football over the past five years, but his future at the San Siro has been thrown into doubt after Milan’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Cagliari’s defeat on the final day condemned Milan to the Europa League, and the Italian outlet reports that Maignan could follow the sacked Max Allegri out the door.
It can represent an amazing transformation.
Maignan signed a contract extension in January, tying him to Milan until 2031 and seemingly ending months of speculation over his future.
But the absence of Champions League football changes the equation completely, and Calciomercato reports that the club may need to sell to balance the books without the income offered by Europe’s top competition.
Chelsea are not the only club that revolves.
Bayern Munich and Man United are also listed as interested, but the Blues hold one important factor over their rivals: history.
Last summer, Chelsea came as close as anyone to signing Maignan.
Fabrizio Romano reported at the time that the goalkeeper was “very keen” to join the club and pushed for it to happen, with talks held between the two clubs before talks broke down over Milan’s asking price.
Chelsea considered the fee too high given Maignan’s age and contract status at the time, and the deal fell through. Robert Sanchez remains first choice, Djordje Petrovic was eventually sold to Bournemouth, and the goalkeeper question remained unresolved.
12 months on, the landscape has changed.
Maignan’s new deal strengthens Milan’s hand even more – any club that wants him will now have to negotiate a five-year contract.
However, Chelsea’s determination to return, combined with Maignan’s reported enthusiasm for the Premier League, suggests there is a real foundation to build on.
The Frenchman’s numbers this season underline his quality.
37 Serie A appearances, 14 clean sheets, and a high save percentage – all this for the captain of a team that was underperforming around him.
He earned 38 caps for France and was the first-choice goalkeeper for Euro 2024, cementing his status as one of the top two or three in his position on the continent.
For Chelsea, the logic is straightforward.
Alonso needs a goalkeeper he can trust for the long term, and Maignan – ‘high’, experienced, and driven by the desire to compete at the highest level – fits that brief precisely.
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Obviously it would be brave.
