Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are set to face stiff competition from Juventus in their pursuit of AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan.
According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus could look to hijack Chelsea’s move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Blues have a long-standing interest in the French international, and they are pushing hard to sign him on a free transfer next summer.
But since a deal has not been done yet, the Old Lady are looking to enter the race. They have started working towards a potential deal as they look to steal a march on the Premier League giants.
Maignan came up the ranks at PSG. While things did not really work out for him at his childhood club, the Frenchman made quite a name for himself with his impressive performances for LOSC Lille. The experienced goalkeeper ended up joining AC Milan in the summer of 2021, and he has only gone from strength to strength since.
The 30-year-old has been one of the standout performers for AC Milan in recent seasons, and he is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. With Mike Maignan’s contract running out at the end of the season, multiple top clubs are keeping tabs on his situation.
Chelsea are working hard to sign Mike Maignan
While AC Milan would love to renew Mike Maignan’s deal, talks have been on a standstill for some time. Maignan looks set for a move away. The French shot-stopper seems drawn towards a move to the Premier League, and Chelsea are believed to be front-runners for his signature.
The West London club are looking for a world-class shot-stopper. While they do have Filip Jorgensen and Robert Sanchez in their ranks, the Blues are not certain about them being their number one choice in goal. Maignan is seen as an instant upgrade in that position.
Juventus are looking to hijack the deal
While Chelsea are already working on a potential deal and remain confident of getting it over the line, Juventus are looking to hijack it. Mike Maignan is yet to make any commitments, and as a result, Juventus chief Damien Comolli is working hard to lure him to Turin.
Since the Frenchman feels quite comfortable in Italy, the Bianconeri are looking to use that as a key factor to convince him to remain in Serie A. Moreover, Comolli, along with compatriots Khephren Thuram and former AC Milan star Pierre Kalulu, are hoping they can persuade him to join Juventus.
The Old Lady have already started exploring a potential deal, hoping an opportunity will arise in the coming weeks. While matching Chelsea’s financial offer might not be possible, the Turin-based club will certainly need to offer Maignan a significant pay rise from his current €3 million per year salary.