Chelsea begins effort to sign Mike Maignan, ahead of Juventus in race.

Chelsea is gearing up to take the lead in the effort to sign Mike Maignan next summer and currently holds an advantage over Juventus in this pursuit.

According to Sky Sport France, Chelsea is leading the charge for Mike Maignan, outpacing Juventus in the competition. AC Milan appears resigned to losing the 30-year-old French international on a free transfer next summer, with the Blues capitalizing on the momentum they gained from their interest in the goalkeeper since last summer.

Mike Maignan is set to be a significant topic of conversation within AC Milan's offices, as they have come to terms with the likelihood of losing the 30-year-old French international on a Bosman deal next summer. The Rossoneri have made every effort to renew the goalkeeper's contract, but thus far, they have been unsuccessful in finalizing an agreement.

Maignan is prepared to depart from Milan next summer and has no intention of signing a new contract at the San Siro, which has caught the attention of several of his prominent suitors. Bayern Munich is believed to be interested in the goalkeeper, while Chelsea has been pursuing him since last summer, when they were unable to reach an agreement on a transfer fee with Milan before the Club World Cup began.

Juventus is also in the running and appears ready to present an appealing contract to secure the 30-year-old French international on a free transfer next summer. The idea of moving to Turin is likely to be enticing for Maignan, considering he has settled in Italy to some extent.

Nevertheless, Chelsea currently leads the pack, particularly ahead of Juventus, especially given their strong connections with the player's camp since last summer. They may have already persuaded Maignan to consider their project last summer, as they were willing to sign him on a Bosman move in 2026 after failing to acquire him at that time.

Chelsea is leading the charge for Mike Maignan.

Maignan offers a wealth of experience that currently enhances Chelsea’s goalkeeping lineup, making it unsurprising that the club targeted him to take over from Robert Sanchez. Although Sanchez's recent resurgence diminishes the urgency for a new goalkeeper in January, the Blues are poised to acquire the 30-year-old French international to replace the Spaniard next summer.

Interestingly, they might even think about retaining Sanchez after bringing in Maignan, as it could be the current second-choice, Filip Jorgensen, who is on his way out. In summary, Chelsea holds a strong position in the pursuit of the Milan goalkeeper, who is said to be eager to play in the Premier League.