AdminChelsea may have faced a setback in their pursuit of Mike Maignan. The AC Milan goalkeeper was widely rumored to be heading to Stamford Bridge ahead of the Club World Cup, but negotiations fell through when the two clubs were unable to agree on a transfer fee.
Maignan, whose contract at San Siro ends next year, made 37 appearances in Serie A last season, allowing 41 goals while keeping 13 clean sheets. Despite his strong performances, the Rossoneri ended up in eighth place and missed out on qualification for any of UEFA’s three club competitions.
The exceptional play of the France international did capture Chelsea’s attention. Last month, football. london reported that Chelsea was prepared to make a £13 million offer for Maignan, but the Italian club sought more than £20 million.
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Fortunately for Chelsea, Milan might be compelled to reassess their stance. Starting in January, overseas clubs can initiate pre-contract discussions with the goalkeeper regarding a potential free transfer at the season’s conclusion.
If Maignan opts not to sign an extension, the Italian club will confront a challenging choice. Milan must weigh whether to risk losing the French player for nothing or to cash in this summer.
Meanwhile, as the Rossoneri ponder his future, Maignan has been relishing his summer break. The Chelsea target has been spending time in Los Angeles with Manu Kone of AS Roma and Bryan Mbeumo, who remains a target for Manchester United. On Thursday, the trio shared a video on their Instagram accounts. Maignan, Mbeumo, and Kone showcased moments from their U. S. trip, including a fun photo in front of the Griffith Observatory in LA.
This collaboration has ignited excitement on social media, with fans encouraging Maignan to join Mbeumo at Old Trafford. According to our sister outlet, the Manchester Evening News, the 25-year-old forward is eager to move to United this summer.
However, reports indicate that Manchester United’s two offers for Mbeumo from Brentford have been declined. It’s reported that Ruben Amorim is keen to finalize a deal for Mbeumo “as quickly as possible” so the Cameroon international can begin pre-season training.
United’s first friendly of the summer is scheduled in a couple of weeks, where they will face Leeds United at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 19. Following that, they will travel to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series.
Amorim’s team is set to play against West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton before returning to the UK. Before United hosts Arsenal on the opening day of the new season, they will also play Fiorentina at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has only two pre-season friendlies planned. The Blues will compete against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on August 8, followed by a clash with AC Milan a few days later on August 10.
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