Chelsea news: Blues will not pay ‘FIFA Club World Cup tax’ for AC Milan star Mike Maignan as deal falls through
AC Milan shotstopper Mike Maignan will not move to Chelsea before the FIFA Club World Cup deadline as the Blues refuse to meet the Italians' price tag.
The West Londoners have had goalkeeper struggles all season.
Robert Sanchez has remained unconvincing, and Djordje Petrovic was shipped off to Strasbourg.
It was Filip Jorgensen who ended the season as the No.1, but it seems apparent that Enzo Maresca looks at Maignan as the best option to propel them to European and domestic success.
Talks fail for Mike Maignan
Mike Maignan in action for AC Milan.
The 29-year-old made 54 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri this season as the club faltered to a measly 8th place finish in the Serie A.
With Milan failing to secure European football for next term despite the inputs of a revitalised Christian Pulisic and Raphael Leao, the Frenchman had reportedly been interested in the prospect of joining the Conference League winners.
As per Fabrizio Romano, Maignan was ‘keen on joining Chelsea’ and ‘pushing for the deal to happen’.
Chelsea will not pay an inflated price
The Blues were hoping to conclude negotiations ahead of the Club World Cup’s Tuesday deadline day, and submitted a bid worth £13million.
Chelsea believed that the Serie A outfit had inflated their asking price due to the deadline.
Maignan has made 165 appearances for the Italian side, as well as featuring 32 times for France.
The West Londoners also missed out on signing Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, who was subsequently included in the Bundesliga side’s squad for the Club World Cup.
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