Chelsea 'considering move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan'

Chelsea ‘are considering a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan’ ahead of Edouard Mendy’s exit – with doubts over Kepa’s No 1 status

  • Chelsea are weighing up a bid for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, according to reports 
  • Mauricio Pochettino is said to be willing to start the season with Kepa as his No 1
  • But the club are believed to be exploring the option of signing another stopper
  • Transfer news LIVE: West Ham ‘reject Man City’s £90million bid for Declan Rice’ 

Chelsea are weighing up a move for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan amid doubts over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s No 1 status, according to reports.

Kepa, 28, signed for £71.6million in 2018 – making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.

But after two seasons as first-choice, he was dropped to back-up after a string of mistakes, but was reinstated as No 1 ahead of Edouard Mendy last campaign.

Mendy is said to be on the brink of joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in a reported £16m move, which would leave Chelsea with only Kepa realistically challenging for the No 1 shirt.

And as reported by the Telegraph, a move for French star Maignan is being considered.

Chelsea are lining up a bid for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan amid doubts over Kepa, say reports

Boss Mauricio Pochettino is believed to be willing to start next season with Kepa as his No 1

Edouard Mendy is on the brink of a move to Saudi Arabia, leaving Chelsea short at goalkeeper

Incoming Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly willing to start the season with Spaniard Kepa as first choice.

But Marcus Bettinelli is third-choice and teenager Gabriel Slonina, though promising, is unlikely to be ready to challenge to play regularly for the first-team.

So the club are reportedly lining up an approach for the highly-rated Maignan, who was named in the Serie A team of the season after several stellar performances for the Rossoneri. 

Maignan, 27, is France’s No 1 after replacing Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris following his retirement from international football.

He also helped Stefano Pioli’s side win the Serie A title in 2021-22, but is under contract for three more years, meaning his fee could be prohibitive.

Kepa reportedly has no intention of leaving and wants to become the club’s long-term No 1, according to reports.

He looked set for a summer departure with Ligue 1 side Nice among the mentioned parties linked with making a move, but the appointment of Pochettino has convinced him to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino is bringing goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez with him to London and it is Kepa’s close personal relationship with Jimenez that makes him believe he can resurrect his Chelsea career, according to The Sun.

The duo have apparently been in discussions since the end of the season and are already putting a plan together to help Kepa become a formidable force between the sticks.

However, Kepa – like the majority of his team-mates – fell to pieces as the Blues endured a nightmare campaign that saw first manager Thomas Tuchel and then his successor Graham Potter lose their jobs as they limped to a 12th-place Premier League finish.

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