Chelsea are reigniting their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan this summer, according to journalist Ekrem Konur, as the Blues look to strengthen between the posts.
Maignan, who stands 6ft 3in tall, is available on a free transfer when his contract with Milan expires this month, making the deal financially attractive for Chelsea.
His £17m Transfermarkt valuation would effectively be bypassed entirely, offering the London club a rare opportunity to acquire elite goalkeeping talent without a transfer fee.
Konur reports that Maignan is keen on making the move to the Premier League, with Chelsea’s renewed interest arriving at a potentially ideal moment for both parties.
Chelsea had already explored a deal for the France international last summer, but negotiations collapsed after the two clubs failed to agree on a valuation for the shot-stopper.
Maignan has proven himself as one of Serie A’s most reliable goalkeepers, recording 14 clean sheets last season, which ranked fourth-highest in the entire division despite Milan finishing fifth.
The 30-year-old first rose to prominence at Lille, where he recorded an outstanding 21 clean sheets in 38 appearances before securing his move to AC Milan in 2021.
He immediately justified that transfer by helping Milan lift the Serie A title in his debut season at the club, later adding an Italian Super Cup winners medal to his collection.
For newly appointed Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso, Maignan’s composure, shot-stopping quality, and distribution ability would make him an ideal fit in a possession-oriented system.
Chelsea’s ongoing search for a reliable long-term goalkeeper stretches back years, beginning when they broke the world record fee for a goalkeeper by signing Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018.
Since then, the club has cycled through Edouard Mendy, Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina, and Mike Penders in their attempts to solve the position.
Penders has emerged as something of an exception, with his rising reputation seeing him recognised as a genuine long-term candidate for the first-choice spot at Stamford Bridge.
Despite that, the arrival of a proven top-level goalkeeper like Maignan would represent a significant upgrade and signal Chelsea’s ambition under Alonso heading into next season.