Chelsea prepare offer to sign world-class goalkeeper for Xabi Alonso

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Chelsea are ready to reignite their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan following the appointment of Xabi Alonso.

The Blues have had a goalkeeper problem basically ever since Thibaut Courtois departed for Real Madrid. Admittedly, Robert Sanchez has looked much-improved this season, but he is still a liability at times.

Last year, Chelsea attempted to sign an undeniable upgrade on the Spaniard when they sought to pounce on Maignan's contract situation at Milan ahead of the Club World Cup. The Frenchman only had a year to run on his deal, which emboldened the Blues to seek a cut-price agreement.

The Rossoneri, however, refused to play along. Milan dug their heels in and rejected Chelsea's low-ball offers for Maignan, forcing the Stamford Bridge outfit to end their pursuit of the shot-stopper.

Over the course of the season, reports frequently suggested that Chelsea would no longer try to sign a goalkeeper because of Mike Penders' impending return from his loan at Strasbourg. The Belgian looked set to become the club's new No.1 this summer.

Chelsea to sign Maignan after all?

However, the Blues' disastrous end to the season has led to a major reckoning. The appointment of Xabi Alonso has gone hand-in-hand with a change in transfer strategy, with Chelsea no longer mostly targeting young prospects.

The West London giants are planning to sign more experienced, high-level players this summer, and this could include bringing in a new goalkeeper after all. Some reports have suggested that Alonso wants a world-class player between the sticks.

Maignan could be just that player, despite recently signing a contract extension. The 30-year-old penned fresh terms when Milan looked on course to comfortably qualify for the Champions League.

But the Serie A heavyweights endured a similarly catastrophic end to the season as Chelsea, resulting in the sacking of essentially the club's entire sporting leadership on Monday. Milan will only play Europa League football next season.

As a result, Calciomercato reports that Maignan could look to leave the club after all. He effectively extended his contract with the club only because of the then-seemingly inevitable prospect of Champions League qualification.

Chelsea, the Italian outlet claims, "are still on the trail of the French goalkeeper." In fact, the Blues are "ready to make an offer for him." Could we finally see Maignan in the Premier League next season?