How Chelsea's transfer pursuit of Mike Maignan was scuppered by AC Milan as next steps revealed

Earlier this summer, Chelsea were pursuing Milan goalkeeper Maignan, with the France international said to be open to a Stamford Bridge switch. The move eventually came to nothing, with the Blues sticking with Robert Sanchez as their first choice. Now, new reports have illustrated why the 30-year-old remained at the San Siro, what is in store for his future, and if the Premier League team will try to recruit him in 2026.

Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Luca Bianchin states that Chelsea were close to finalising a deal for Maignan this summer but Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri stepped in to stop the transfer. His decision was also impacted by the Serie A outfit's efforts to sign Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue.

"At the beginning of the summer, Chelsea put Mike Maignan at the top of their list for goal and seriously considered bringing him to the Club World Cup. For a week, it was thought a deal worth around €18m would be finalised," Bianchin said. "Allegri, shortly after taking office, asked to start over with the captain’s goalkeeper, and AC Milan followed suit: they removed Maignan from the market, a decision that didn’t help negotiations with Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club, for Guéla Doué."

Fellow Italian journalist, Daniele Longo, says Chelsea still have an interest in signing Maignan, who is in the last year of his Milan contract. He states the Frenchman has no intention to renew, with the keeper seemingly set to become a free agent in 2026.