Gazzetta: Allegri blocked Chelsea summer move for Milan goalkeeper Maignan | OneFootball

Chelsea were on the verge of completing a deal to sign Mike Maignan from Milan this summer, reports from Italy claim, before Massimiliano Allegri arrived as head coach and asked the club not to sell the Frenchman.

According to what has been reported by Italian newspaper the Gazzetta dello Sport, via MilanNews, Chelsea had made Maignan a top priority and were close to wrapping up a deal in the region of €18 million.

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Mike Maignan of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AC Milan at Gewiss Stadium on December 06, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)

However, everything changed with Allegri’s arrival. The returning head coach decided that he wanted to start fresh with Maignan and the Rossoneri quickly removed the player from the transfer market.

Maignan u-turn hurt Milan move for Doue

In the summer, the Rossoneri were chasing a move for Strasbourg full-back Guela Doue, the brother of PSG star Desire. However, a move did not materialise in the end.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Rafael Leao of AC Milan battles for possession with Guela Doue of Stade Rennais FC during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Knockout Round Play-offs First Leg match between AC Milan and Stade Rennais FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Strasbourg are owned by the same company as Chelsea and work closely together as part of a multi-club network.

Therefore, Gazzetta claim that Milan’s decision to suddenly pull the plug on the Blues’ pursuit of Maignan may have damaged their chances of signing Doue.