Chelsea closing in on much-needed signing: Maresca plan ‘ON TRACK’

Robin Bairner

26 Sept 2025 06:40 BST
5 min read

Chelsea’s goalkeeper plan remains “on track”, despite the recent controversy surrounding Robert Sanchez.

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A red card for the Blues No.1 just minutes into their Premier League clash against Manchester United last weekend was a costly error as the Londoners suffered a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford.

It was an incident that prompted questions as to why there was no summer move for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The answer, TeamTalk reports, is that Chelsea are playing the long game to sign France international keeper Mike Maignan as a free agent next summer.

Current ETV

Mike Maignan

Milan

Mike Maignan

Milan

ETV Range

€13.9M - €17M

Enzo Maresca’s side came close to landing AC Milan shot-stopper Maignan in the summer. Personal terms were agreed but ultimately Chelsea could not agree a fee with his Serie A employers.

And the 30-year-old remains top of the agenda for the Blues, despite reports indicating that Manchester United are ready to join this particular transfer race.

Maignan is said to be “very interested” in joining Chelsea and there is no sign of any breakthrough in a new contract at San Siro.

Although his age profile is very different to the one typically approved by the Blues, who love snapping up young prospects, his arrival is part of a long-term plan at Stamford Bridge that will ultimately see Mike Penders put claim the No.1 jersey.

The 20-year-old Belgian is currently on loan at BlueCo club Strasbourg in France but is highly regarded at Chelsea and earmarked for the goalkeeping role a few years down the line.

Why did Chelsea not sign Donnarumma?

Signing Donnarumma might have seemed like an obvious solution to the club’s current issues but in the long-term would have disrupted the Blues’ plans, costing the club considerably more in terms of both wages and transfer fee.

Nevertheless, former Chelsea star Jon Obi Mikel was angered at the inaction of the management this summer, specifically regarding the Italy star.

“I have said it so many times. We should have in the transfer window brought in a top goalkeeper,” he said on the Obi One podcast.

“We have seen what Donnarumma is doing now at Manchester City, he was the goalkeeper that was out there.

“I know there has been a lot of talk about the wage structure, but you can find a way around that.

“He's a top goalkeeper, 26 years of age, you could have found a way around that he fits into the wage structure.

“It's going to be incredibly hard for us to win the Premier League with the goalkeeper that we have right now.”

While the issue of Robert Sanchez’s form is a hot topic at Chelsea currently, if Maignan is signed on a free transfer next summer, it is a move that should appease some of the club’s doubters.

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