Chelsea are reportedly thinking of reactivating their push to sign Mike Maignan, the AC Milan goalkeeper, after Robert Sanchez’s recent mistake for the red card vs Manchester United. Maignan’s name is back on their radar as a possible upgrade.
Why Maignan Again Seems Attractive for Chelsea
Sanchez was dismissed after just five minutes at Old Trafford for a wild tackle. The early sending off left Chelsea short, and pundits claim that moment has served to illustrate how dangerous things look with their current goalkeeper options.
Maignan is seen by many as solid, stable, and experienced. With his contract at Milan ending next season, there is talk that Chelsea could negotiate a free move or agree pre-contract terms from January. Milan did set a high fee in the summer, which Chelsea were not willing to meet.
Hurdles and Previous Talks
Earlier this year, Chelsea reportedly made offers for Maignan. Milan valued him at about £25 million or more. The Blues could not agree on the fee. Because one year remains on Maignan’s current deal, Milan risks losing him on a free later, so Chelsea may have more leverage later. But rival clubs also watch such situations. Any deal will need to make sense financially and in squad planning.
Chelsea : Measuring Risk vs Reward
Chelsea must weigh whether switching goalkeepers mid-season or during cups is worth the disruption. Sanchez still has supporters and has made important saves. But errors and instability worry fans. Maignan brings reputation and calm, but also cost.
The Blues must decide if upgrading now (with a fee) or waiting to get him free later is better. Maresca, the manager, may prefer someone more reliable between the posts, but any move must consider finances, existing keepers, and how the squad adapts.
Author’s Insight
This Maignan story feels more serious now than a summer rumor. Sanchez’s red card was a moment that drew attention to Chelsea’s goalscoring defence; maybe Chelsea see Maignan as a more dependable anchor. If they push hard, they might get him in January or via a pre-contract. But they’ll need to be smart: bringing in Maignan could solve problems, but only if the rest of the team supports him, mistakes are reduced, and cohesion remains. Otherwise, swapping keepers might just swap the worry.
