Chelsea retain interest in signing Maignan after failing to nab him last summer | OneFootball

Chelsea never stopped admiring Mike Maignan after missing out on his signature last summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Blues are ready to pounce on any uncertainty at AC Milan to bring Maignan to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea still desperately need a goalkeeper, with Filip Jorgensen failing to convince, and Robert Sanchez still pretty much unreliable despite his uptick over the past year.

Mike Penders will likely return to Chelsea next season, but dipping into the market for an experienced, proven option won’t be a bad idea.

After struggling to find his feet over the past two seasons, Maignan was back to his best this term.

The 6ft3 goalie has kept 13 clean sheets in 35 Serie A games, preventing an astonishing 8.28 goals. His kicking has also been immaculate.

Maignan has saved 2/8 penalties that he has faced in the league this season and has remained a reliable leader in the dressing room.

The French international might consider an exit this summer, but he wants Champions League football, which Chelsea are unlikely to offer.

If Chelsea and their sporting directors are finally ready to snap out of this fugue state and obsession with unfinished talent, then signings like Maignan are what they should be prioritising.

There is only so long you can keep gambling on potential while the team continues to suffer from instability in crucial positions.

Sanchez and Jorgensen do not inspire confidence at the highest level, and Chelsea cannot head into another season pretending otherwise.

Maignan brings authority, elite shot-stopping, leadership and composure under pressure, qualities Chelsea’s chaotic backline has badly lacked.

Just as importantly, he would provide the perfect environment for Penders to develop properly, rather than being thrown into the fire too early.

Learning behind one of Europe’s most complete goalkeepers for a season or two could accelerate Penders’ path towards becoming a future elite number one.

Maignan ‘oozes confidence’ and Chelsea should do everything possible to convince him to postpone Champions League football for one year and help build something at Stamford Bridge.