Chelsea make moves to sign Defender and Keeper | OneFootball

Chelsea Eye Ambitious Free Agent Strategy with Guehi and Maignan in 2026

Chelsea’s transfer policy has been one of the most scrutinised in modern football. Since Todd Boehly took charge in 2022, more than £1.5bn has been spent on recruitment, with a further £285m invested in the most recent summer window. Yet according to TBR Football, Stamford Bridge executives are already planning for 2026 and intend to secure two elite players on free transfers.

The names under consideration are Marc Guehi, currently with Crystal Palace, and Mike Maignan, the France international goalkeeper at AC Milan. Both are approaching the final years of their contracts and represent significant opportunities in a volatile transfer market.

Photo: IMAGO

Guehi at the centre of Premier League battle

Graeme Bailey of TBR Football reports that Chelsea are “firmly back in the frame” to sign Guehi when his Crystal Palace deal expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. Liverpool were close to a £35m move on deadline day earlier this month before Palace chairman Steve Parish blocked the transfer.

Interest in the 25-year-old defender extends far beyond England. Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring developments, while Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan are all circling. Chelsea are determined not to miss out.

Bailey explained: “Chelsea know all about Guehi, but this summer they opted not to bring in a new central defender, even after Levi Colwill’s injury. However, the chance to add a homegrown star, currently one of the best in Europe – it is just not logical for them not to be involved.”

The journalist also added: “Chelsea know Guehi’s character, he is a fantastic person and everyone who meets him relays that fact – I was told by one high ranking Premier League executive that signing him is one of the ‘least risky’ transfers that anyone could do.”

Liverpool remain seen as favourites in this particular chase, but the competition is open-ended. “Liverpool remain in pole position, that is the belief in football circles, but Guehi is going to have his pick of clubs from England and Europe. It’s going to be fascinating to see how this plays out.”

Chelsea focus on Maignan amid goalkeeper doubts

While Guehi’s situation dominates headlines, Chelsea are also keeping a close eye on Maignan. The 29-year-old Frenchman has become one of Europe’s most respected goalkeepers since his move to AC Milan. His contract runs until June 2026, and although Chelsea attempted to prise him away in the recent transfer window, Milan held firm.

TBR Football understand Chelsea will make another approach in January. Should that fail, the plan is to secure him on a free transfer in the summer. His potential arrival would cast significant doubt over Robert Sanchez’s long-term prospects as Chelsea’s No.1.

As Bailey noted, Maignan “remains a main target amid doubts over Robert Sanchez, so the prospect of Chelsea signing two elite players for free in 2026 cannot be ruled out.”

Photo: IMAGO

Long-term vision at Stamford Bridge

What is striking is Chelsea’s determination to blend financial power with opportunism. The free agent market has grown increasingly influential in recent years, particularly with top players running down contracts for greater control over their futures. Guehi and Maignan would not only add proven quality, but also represent excellent business in a financial fair play landscape where efficiency matters as much as raw investment.

Chelsea’s recruitment team are under pressure to balance the squad after heavy expenditure across successive windows. For all the high fees spent, supporters and analysts have pointed to gaps in experience and leadership. Both Guehi and Maignan address those concerns directly, the former providing defensive assurance and the latter world-class reliability between the posts.

Strategic importance of homegrown presence

There is also an emotional element. Guehi came through Chelsea’s academy before making his name at Crystal Palace. Bringing him back as a matured, Premier League-hardened defender would add not only tactical balance but also symbolic value for a club often accused of neglecting its youth system in favour of high-priced imports.

Free agency may appear to be a cost-effective route, but in practice it involves fierce competition, lucrative signing bonuses and wage commitments. Nevertheless, Chelsea’s involvement signals intent, suggesting that lessons are being learned about squad building in a changing market.

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From a Chelsea fan’s perspective, this report will be welcomed with optimism, but also with a sense of caution. The prospect of bringing Marc Guehi back to Stamford Bridge feels like a full-circle moment, and many supporters have long questioned why he was allowed to leave in the first place. He has developed into a top-level defender, one admired across Europe, and his homegrown status makes him an ideal candidate. For the fans, seeing him return would add heart as well as quality to the team.

Mike Maignan’s potential arrival would also be seen as a significant upgrade. While Robert Sanchez has shown flashes of ability, there are lingering doubts over his consistency at the highest level. Maignan has the pedigree and experience to provide immediate assurance. Chelsea fans have grown weary of uncertainty in goal since the decline of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s spell, and the idea of landing one of the world’s best keepers for free would be considered outstanding business.

Still, there is a note of realism. Free transfers of this calibre attract huge competition, and fans know that Liverpool and others will not step aside quietly in the race for Guehi. What matters most is that Chelsea appear to have recognised the need for balance in squad construction. Supporters will hope that the club’s hierarchy not only targets stars but also delivers them, ensuring that 2026 becomes remembered for shrewd planning rather than missed opportunities.