Chelsea weren’t expected to make a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan until late August according to Matt Law.
The Blues are once again set to be busy this summer and have already completed the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m.
Chelsea face a critical window and are also looking to bring in a versatile forward, left winger and centre back to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s squad.
Chelsea were expected to move for Maignan in late August
The Blues are currently in America preparing for the Club World Cup, with their first game against Los Angeles FC taking place on Monday night.
Delap is joined by Andrey Santos, Mamadou Sarr and Dario Essugo as the new faces in the squad, but one name who won’t be there is Maignan.
Chelsea made an approach to Milan for Maignan and wanted to get a deal done in time for the Club World Cup but were unable to.
Milan valued the 29-year-old at £20-£25m, but Chelsea only valued Maignan at £12.6m and weren’t prepared to pay more.
It’s been reported the Blues could try and sign Maignan on a free transfer in 2026 and Law has now provided some insight on the situation.
“What took me by surprise is when I got a little tickle towards the end of last season that they were interested in his situation, it was told to me then it was one to probably watch for late August, for if he hadn’t signed a contract and hadn’t gone anywhere and there was a potential of quite a favourable deal,” he told The London Is Blue Podcast.
“And the thing that surprised me obviously is it went the other way. They went for him earlier or made the check on him earlier rather than later and looked at doing it in time for the Club World Cup.
“So that’s the part of that that took me by surprise, not the interest. Look, they put a valuation on him, about 15 million pounds and wouldn’t deviate from it.
“Now I wrote when it came out that they had made a check on him because I’m not convinced that even got to the stage of them actually making a proper formal bid for him this time around.”
Djordje Petrovic set to leave
Whilst Maignan could still arrive one keeper who is set to leave is Djordje Petrovic despite an impressive season on loan at Strasbourg.
The Serb was expected to challenge for the number one shirt but was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup.
Petrovic has got a number of suitors across Europe and Chelsea are set to make a profit on the £14m they paid in 2023.
The club should have at least sign three more for CWc tournament . Keeper , CBs and Winger replacement for Sancho . I don’t see this team go far . Though good luck to them . They need to swap KDH to kudus plus Sanchez or petrovic plus cash . Makes the team stronger . They have a good director that can spot a skillful talented player but the SD not good negotiator . The directors only knows to sign player’s when it cheap and they are kiddos .but comes to solid proven players they’re whimper . look at the rival team signing ( Man City and L’ pool ) . Way far better and they are more stronger because they aim is to be a Champion more trophies for collection and prize money jackpot . That is the real business of owning a club . Champion and get the prestigious trophies to be champion of the world football sports . I hope they sort it out the stadium too and front shirt sponsorship .
All said and noted within these few weeks.
My personal opinion and observation is the Chelsea Team Manager is just in love with Sanchez irrespective of numerous errors he’d made and many points lost in the process … we should be very grateful to God, we made it to the CL.
Before his arrival last year, Petrovic became number one keeper for the team under the former manager after all the keepers were given opportunity to prove their capacities.
The moment Maresca arrived, he pronounce Sanchez as his No. 1 without any prior consideration and the rest is history. Now, Petrovic is back from loan and better than what he was, and yet he’ll not be given any chance to prove who is best amongst them.
More so, CFC doesn’t consider teenagers as good enough players to be actively integrated in the first team … but when it’s done somewhere else, they’re prepared to go and spend millions or in some cases buy back the ones they’d earlier sold at give away prices … we all know the players I’m referring to.
My humble plea here, they should give Petrovic a chance!