Chelsea handed update in pursuit of “world class” France international loved by former Blues defender

Chelsea’s turbulent period continued with another setback in their second outing since Enzo Maresca’s departure.

A 2–1 defeat to Fulham summed up the unease around the club, with Harry Wilson striking late to seal the points for the hosts. Matters were made worse by Marc Cucurella’s sending-off, taking Chelsea’s red card tally in the Premier League this season to five.

With Liam Rosenior expected to take charge imminently, the Blues are at a crossroads. January recruitment is seen as vital, both to steady results on the pitch and to shape the next phase of the project.

However, Chelsea have now been dealt disappointing news regarding one high-profile target they had hoped to land.

Chelsea’s hopes of signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan have suffered a major blow, with the France international now close to committing his future to the Rossoneri.

According to Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, negotiations between Milan and Maignan’s representatives have accelerated in recent days, with an agreement edging closer on a new contract running until June 2031. The deal would reportedly see the 29-year-old earn around €5.7 million per season, placing him among the club’s top earners.

Maignan, previously labelled “world class” by former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf, had been on the Blues’ radar for some time. With his existing contract set to expire this summer, Chelsea viewed the situation as an opportunity. Talks, however, never progressed far enough, with Milan unwilling to accept a cut-price exit and Chelsea reluctant to exceed their valuation.

Now, with a long-term extension imminent, Chelsea’s pursuit appears effectively over, forcing the club to look elsewhere as they reassess their transfer priorities under new leadership.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.