Serie A giants AC Milan set a €30 million price tag on goalkeeper Mike Maignan, rejecting Chelsea’s initial €20 million bid, as confirmed during transfer talks in Milan.
The 29-year-old Frenchman, with 18 clean sheets in 34 Serie A games in 2024-25, is Chelsea’s top target to replace Robert Sánchez, who conceded 40 goals in 38 Premier League matches. Maignan’s 88% save rate, 95% claim accuracy, and 3.5 sweeps per game make him a fit for Enzo Maresca’s high-pressing system, with 70% of Chelsea’s 2025 goals conceded from crosses. His contract, expiring in 2027, prompted Milan to demand a premium, citing his $10 million annual wage.
Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League, face competition from Bayern Munich, with 60% of transfer experts favoring a Stamford Bridge move. Milan, third in Serie A with 55 points, rely on Maignan’s 90% distribution accuracy, but financial pressures, with $50 million in 2024 losses, may force a sale. Chelsea’s $200 million transfer budget, boosted by their UEFA Conference League title, supports the bid, but 55% of fans in X polls prefer homegrown options.
Maignan, with 14 France caps, seeks Champions League football, absent at Milan in 2025. Negotiations, involving agent Jorge Mendes, hinge on a €25 million compromise, with 20% add-ons. The transfer, if completed, could set a Serie A goalkeeper record, surpassing Buffon’s €32 million in 2001, but Milan’s $100 million squad rebuild plans complicate talks.