Chelsea ‘considering move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan’ amid doubts over Kepa

Chelsea are weighing up a move for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan amid doubts over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s No 1 status, according to reports.

Kepa, 28, signed for £71.6million in 2018 – making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.

But after two seasons as first-choice, he was dropped to backup after a string of mistakes, but was reinstated as No 1 ahead of Edouard Mendy last campaign.

Mendy is said to be on the brink of joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in a reported £16m move, which would leave Chelsea with only Kepa realistically challenging for the No 1 shirt.

And as reported by the Telegraph, a move for French star Maignan is being considered.

Incoming Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly willing to start the season with Spaniard Kepa as first choice.

But Marcus Bettinelli is third-choice and teenager Gabriel Slonina, though promising, is unlikely to be ready to challenge to play regularly for the first-team.

So the club are reportedly lining up an approach for the highly rated Maignan, who was named in the Serie A team of the season after several stellar performances for the Rossoneri.

Maignan, 27, is France’s No 1 after replacing Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris following his retirement from international football.

He also helped Stefano Pioli’s side win the Serie A title in 2021-22, but is under contract for three more years, meaning his fee could be prohibitive.

Kepa reportedly has no intention of leaving and wants to become the club’s long-term No 1, according to reports.

He looked set for a summer departure with Ligue 1 side Nice among the mentioned parties linked with making a move, but the appointment of Pochettino has convinced him to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino is bringing goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez with him to London and it is Kepa’s close personal relationship with Jimenez that makes him believe he can resurrect his Chelsea career, according to The Sun.

The duo have apparently been in discussions since the end of the season and are already putting a plan together to help Kepa become a formidable force between the sticks.

However, Kepa like the majority of his team-mates fell to pieces as the Blues endured a nightmare campaign that saw Graham Potter lose his job as they limped to a 12th-place Premier League finish.

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