Chelsea get green light from player ahead of 'expected' transfer bid

Chelsea continue to chase the signing of a new goalkeeper with their FIFA Club World Cup campaign now just over a week away. The Blues are headed to the United States, where many of their international stars will join them when the international window wraps up.

Before then, the special 10-day transfer window will slam shut on June 10, with the window then closed until later in the summer, when the usual, much longer, transfer period will take place.

Chelsea have already signed Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, and it looks as though they want to snap up a goalkeeper before the end of the special window to take that keeper with them to the United States. The Club World Cup may be seen as a summer distraction for some, but Enzo Maresca will see it as an early chance to bed in any new signings, even if Delap may not be there due to the U-21s Euros.

On the goalkeeper front, Chelsea are said to be chasing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who is now in the final year of his contract with the Serie A giants. There has been a contract offer on the table for some time, but Maignan has not penned it, leaving Milan in a tricky situation.

They are now said to be demanding a big fee, and while the keeper is said to want to join Chelsea, it remains to be seen whether the Blues will bite on the fee. Journalist Ben Jacobs has reported: “Understand Mike Maignan has told Milan he wants to join Chelsea. No guarantee a move happens as Milan’s £20m-£25m price remains, but the French keeper has now made it clear he wants to leave. Chelsea expected to place a bid to see if they can secure Maignan before the CWC.”

Maignan’s poor form

Maignan is coming off a disappointing season that he himself has admitted he was frustrated with. He told DAZN in April: “I don’t like your question. If you want to ask me, then be direct and I will answer you. It’s not the best period of my career. The important thing is to maintain positivity and confidence every day. It’s been three games that have been a bit like this, but I have confidence in myself. I have to continue working.”

He added in another interview: “I’ll tell you the truth. There’s a period where you make fewer saves, it happens. I’ve always stayed positive, I never gave up. Now the wind is starting to turn and that’s good for me."

The level of character will be a good sign for Chelsea, but fans may be concerned about the fact that Maignan was a little error-prone in the season just gone. That will leave fans questioning whether the Blues are really upgrading on Robert Sanchez, but at his best, the Milan keeper has shown that he can be among the best shot-stoppers in Europe. That upside is what Chelsea will feel they are buying if they go through with the deal this summer.

Your next Chelsea read, Arsenal eye shock move for forgotten Chelsea star - available for £5m