Chelsea Reignite Their Interest In This AC Milan Goalkeeper: Should Maresca Go For Him?

4 days ago

In a recent report, journalists Danny Rust and Dean Jones claimed that Chelsea have reignited their interest in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan this summer. It has been revealed that the Blues are keen on recruiting the French shot-stopper in this transfer period.
Maignan's Impressive Form In Serie A
Maignan was a solid presence in between the sticks for the Milan outfit last season when he put in a run of impressive displays for them in Serie A. The French keeper made 53 appearances for AC Milan in the previous campaign, shipping in 59 goals and keeping 15 clean sheets in the process across all competitions.
The 30-year-old was one of the top keepers in Serie A football. He was even accurate when distributing possession from the back after making 86.2% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via fbref.com).
His current contract at the Italian club will run out at the end of next season. Therefore, the Blues could potentially sign him on a cut-price deal in this summer transfer period.
Should Chelsea Boss Enzo Maresca Go For Maignan?
Maignan is a good handler of the ball and can use his quick reflexes to make some solid saves at the back for his side. He doesn't mind putting his foot through the ball when being chased down by the opposition attackers.
Standing at 1.91m, the French keeper can use his strong frame when coming out to collect loose balls and crosses inside his penalty area. However, it remains to be seen whether he can maintain his good form in the Premier League if Chelsea manage to bring him on board this off-season.
We can expect Maignan to add more quality to Enzo Maresca's backline. He is good enough to nail down a regular first-team spot at the West London club next season.
At 30, Maignan has still got a few good years left in him to play at his best. Hence, it makes sense for the Blues to go for a keeper of his quality before the end of this transfer window. He might even help the London giants compete across all fronts in the coming years. However, Maignan won't be a long-term fix to Maresca's goalkeeping concerns at Chelsea.