Transfer: Man Utd, Chelsea, PSG to battle for Maignan
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old has assumed the role as first-choice stopper for the Italian club since moving from Lille in the summer of 2021, making 85 appearances for the Rossoneri.
With Stefano Pioli’s men currently in third and six points behind league leaders Inter Milan, Maignan and his teammates have enjoyed a steady start to the campaign.
The former PSG youngster has taken Hugo Lloris’s title as first-choice keeper for France in recent times, earning 13 caps since making his debut in May 2019.
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According to Italian news outlet Foot Mercato, a number of high-profile European sides are keen on recruiting goalkeeper Maignan in the near future.
The report claims that the Frenchman is attracting interest from his homeland, England and Spain, with PSG, Man United, Chelsea and 14-time European champions Real Madrid monitoring the player’s situation.
Maignan’s present deal at Milan expires during the summer of 2026, however AC and the keeper are currently looking to agree fresh terms.
After an impressive 2022-23 term for the Rossoneri, the 28-year-old is demanding a significant salary increase to reflect his improvement since joining from Lille over two years ago.
It is understood that the San Siro club and the player remain somewhat apart in their negotiations, with the discussions supposedly proving difficult.
In the eventuality that a deal cannot be agreed, the likes of Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils are waiting in the wings to scoop up the services of Maignan.
A large proportion of Man United’s summer business revolved around finding a replacement for keeper David de Gea, who left Old Trafford as a free agent after over a decade on the red side of Manchester.
Cameroon international Andre Onana made the switch to Old Trafford from Inter in July for around £50m, however the 27-year-old has made some high-profile errors so far this season.
It is understood that AC Milan would demand in the region of €70m (£60m) for the sale of Maignan in the New Year or next summer’s transfer window.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea are also said to be interested in the Frenchman, despite the West Londoners signing Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Maignan and his Milan teammates know that they need to win at St James’ Park against Newcastle United next Tuesday to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, but first, the Rossoneri travel to Atalanta BC in Serie A on Saturday.