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- Chelsea have been linked with a Serie A goalkeeper since the end of the season
- They face a race against time to get a deal over the line for the Club World Cup
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Chelsea have at last come to an agreement over their latest transfer target after snapping up Liam Delap for £30million, but will face a race against time if they are to feature in the Club World Cup.
The Blues secured their return to the Champions League in Enzo Maresca‘s first season, and scooped up the Europa Conference League along the way by beating Real Betis 4-1.
As such, though their squad is already bordering on the enormous, they will need to strengthen if they are to make sure they return to club football’s biggest competition in 2026-27.
And one area that never quite seemed certain in that squad was between the sticks, with neither Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen really asserting themselves as the immovable object.
As such, the west London club have been linked with AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan for much of the window.
The Frenchman lifted the Serie A title with AC in 2021-22, and is one of the best goalkeepers in Italy, and now the two clubs are believed to have finally agreed a deal for him to move to the Premier League.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is keen on moving to Chelsea this summer
Maignan is one of the best goalkeepers in Italy and one the Serie A title in his first season
Enzo Maresca’s side are in need of strengthening in order to compete in the Champions League
Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that a deal has been agreed for a £15.2m (€18m) for the French goalkeeper to join Chelsea, with the player considered to be very keen for the transfer to be agreed.
Mail Sport understands that Chelsea had already bid £12.6m, and the Italian side are thought to have wanted a higher price for their player, but a compromise has seemingly been reached.
The outlet adds that the Blues had looked to try and sweeten the deal with the offer of goalkeepers such as Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga – who is now nearing a move to Arsenal – but were turned down.
It comes after contract talks appear to have stalled. The club are thought to have agreed a new deal until 2029 worth around £4.2m-a-year (€5m), but later reneged due to concerns over his fitness and form.
Maignan’s current deal expires at the end of next season, hence the relatively low price the Blues were apparently able to agree.
AC Milan will now reportedly look to Serie A goalkeeper of the season Mile Svilar for their replacement, having starred while at Roma/