- Chelsea are continuing to get transfer business done ahead of Club World Cup
- Goalkeepers Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have both endured a poor season
Chelsea have shown interest in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The Blues currently have Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic and Mike Penders, the 19-year-old arriving from Genk this summer, as options in goal.
While insiders have long said they are well stocked with talented goalkeepers, none are currently shoo-ins to be No 1, and Maignan represents an opportunity for an upgrade.
The 29-year-old France international previously played for Paris Saint-Germain and Lille before joining Milan, who only have him tied down on a deal until 2026.
That has opened the door to potential suitors such as Chelsea, who will be starting their Club World Cup campaign in less than two weeks’ time in the United States.
Sanchez, 27, was No 1 under Enzo Maresca over the last season, though did lose his place to Filip Jorgensen temporarily during an error-prone spell.
Chelsea have reportedly opened talks with AC Milan over signing goalkeeper Mike Maignan
Enzo Maresca is seemingly looking to replace Robert Sanchez as No 1 after a poor season
Maignan has just a year left on his deal at AC Milan and is yet to put pen to paper on new terms
Jorgensen, 23, acted as their No 2 and cup goalkeeper, with him winning the Conference League in Wroclaw, Poland, last week.
Petrovic, 25, spent the last campaign on loan at Strasbourg, where he impressed highly. Penders is likely to be loaned away when he arrives this summer.
It is also understood that a decision on Maignan’s future is all down to whether Milan want to risk him leaving on a free transfer next summer or allow him to depart for a fee this year.
The Frenchman joined Milan from Lille back in 2021 and has been a consistent performer for the Italian giants over the last four seasons.
Despite the club having a poor 2024-25 campaign, in which they finished a lowly eighth in the Serie A, Maignan still managed to keep 13 clean sheets.
With Champions League on offer, he could be tempted to make the switch to the English capital and lead what is already a stacked group of goalkeepers.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will not be turning Jadon Sancho’s loan into a permanent move with the Blues paying a £5million penalty fee to send him back to Manchester United.
Sancho would have stayed for £25m but personal terms could not be agreed with the 25-year-old over the last week. His loan runs until the end of June.
Filip Jorgensen was No 2 for Chelsea last season and started in their Conference League triumph
Meanwhile, Chelsea have forked out £5million to cancel Jadon Sancho’s chance of joining them
He is now on his way back to Old Trafford, and will assess his options at home and abroad this summer.
It means that Maresca has now set his sights on bringing in a winger to accompany their new frontman, reportedly starting talks over a potential £50million move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea first reported their interest in Gittens, 20, when they enquired about his services in January, and according to the Telegraph, they are now ready to act.
The England Under-21s starlet is believed to have a release clause around the £50m mark, with many of European football’s elite clubs circling.
