• Chelsea are monitoring Mike Maignan again after the keeper signed a new AC Milan deal in 2024
• AC Milan sacked manager Max Allegri, CEO Giorgio Furlani, director Igli Tare and technical director Geoffrey Moncada
• The Italian club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League
• Maignan almost joined Chelsea last summer when his contract was ending
• Rafael Leão and Adrien Rabiot could also leave the San Siro

Chelsea Football Club may launch a fresh bid for goalkeeper Mike Maignan. This news comes just months after the France international agreed a long-term contract with AC Milan.

The situation has changed rapidly at the Italian club. They will not compete in the Champions League next season. The board has also dismissed several senior figures. These events have made Maignan rethink his future.

Last summer, the 30-year-old wanted to leave the San Siro. His previous contract was close to ending. He preferred a move to Stamford Bridge. However, AC Milan rejected all offers. They took a risk that he might leave for free. Their patience worked, and he signed until 2031.

Now, the club has fired manager Max Allegri. They have also removed director of sport Igli Tare, chief executive Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada. Nobody has replaced them yet. This uncertainty worries senior players.

Italian media report that Maignan will consider a move if Chelsea make an official offer. The Blues need a new first-choice keeper. The Frenchman joined AC Milan from Lille in 2021 for €16.4 million. He will celebrate his 31st birthday next month. He is also a key player for the French national team.

Other stars may follow him out of the exit door. Winger Rafael Leão and midfielder Adrien Rabiot are both linked with moves away. Rabiot could reunite with Allegri at Napoli.

• Four Italian league players selected for France’s 26-man World Cup group
• AC Milan duo Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot both included for the tournament
• Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram picked after winning the Italian league and cup double
• Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga left out
• Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta called up despite a failed move to Milan in January

Didier Deschamps has announced his final France squad for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament starts next month across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The French coach has selected four footballers from Italy’s top division. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot both come from AC Milan. Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram and Juventus midfielder Manu Koné complete the Italian league representation.

Thuram joins the national team after helping his club win both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia this season. However, his younger brother Khephren Thuram will not travel with the squad. The Juventus midfielder is one of several surprise omissions.

Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga is also excluded. Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana, and former Juventus forward Randal Kolo Muani miss out as well.

In an unexpected move, Deschamps has called up Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace. The striker almost joined AC Milan during the January window but the transfer collapsed after he did not pass a medical examination.

• Chelsea want to sign Mike Maignan during the summer transfer window
• The goalkeeper signed a new AC Milan deal earlier this year running until 2031
• Coach Max Allegri may leave the club, which could change the player’s mind
• Milan can now demand a high transfer fee instead of losing him for free
• The 31-year-old is expected to start for France at the 2026 World Cup

Chelsea Football Club are preparing to make another attempt to sign goalkeeper Mike Maignan. This comes only five months after the France international agreed to stay at AC Milan with a new long-term contract.

Last season, the shot-stopper nearly left the San Siro on a free transfer. His previous deal was close to ending, and Chelsea were the favourites to sign him. Reports at the time suggested the London club had agreed personal terms with the player. However, Milan rejected their proposal and managed to secure an extension until June 2031.

Now, the Premier League side have not given up. They plan to test Milan’s resolve with a fresh bid this summer. Unlike last year, the Italian club can demand a significant transfer fee for the 31-year-old, who remains first choice for the French national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The key to this potential deal could be the current instability at Milan. Head coach Max Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare are both considering their futures. Allegri played a major role in convincing Maignan to stay last season. If the coach departs after just one year, the goalkeeper might reconsider his position. Chelsea hope this uncertainty will create an opportunity to finally bring him to Stamford Bridge.

• Curva Sud publish lengthy statement attacking club owner Gerry Cardinale and chief executive Giorgio Furlani.
• Fans demand Furlani resigns immediately, blaming him for four years of ‘sporting failure’.
• Protest comes hours before AC Milan face Atalanta at San Siro in Serie A action.
• Captain Mike Maignan and the players criticised for avoiding supporters after recent defeats.
• Ultras accuse commercial staff of prioritising tourists over loyal fans through high ticket prices.

The Curva Sud has launched a fierce protest against AC Milan’s leadership. The ultra group published a lengthy statement condemning chief executive Giorgio Furlani, owner Gerry Cardinale, and the first-team squad.

This demonstration comes just before the Rossoneri host Atalanta at San Siro this evening. The match kicks off at 20:45 local time (19:45 BST).

Reports had already suggested the fans planned action. An online petition calling for Furlani’s dismissal recently gained thousands of signatures.

The statement contrasts the current situation with the Scudetto triumph four years ago. It describes that title-winning side as full of courage, unity, and grit.

The ultras claim Furlani has dismantled a winning team through incompetence. They argue the squad needed only small improvements to challenge for major honours.

The message also attacks the American owners. It says they care only about money and ignore the club’s proud history.

Notably, the statement mentions Massimiliano Allegri and Igli Tare. It describes them as competent figures who face constant interference from Furlani.

The fans question why a prestigious club accepts fighting for fourth place instead of the championship. They ask how the board can trample on Milan’s history.

The protest letter also blames commercial executives for hiking ticket prices. It says these policies favour tourists over die-hard supporters in the Curva Sud.

The ultras tell Furlani to pack his bags and leave. They call him the main person responsible for four years of decline.

Finally, the players face criticism for avoiding the crowd. The statement notes captain Mike Maignan led the team straight to the dressing room after their loss to Sassuolo, refusing to face the fans’ anger.

The group concludes that the owners promote mediocrity. They say this attitude kills the motivation and fire needed at a top football club.

• AC Milan crashed to a 2-0 defeat away at Sassuolo following goals from Domenico Berardi and Armand Lauriente.
• Fikayo Tomori received a red card in the 24th minute, leaving the Rossoneri to play with ten men for most of the match.
• Travelling supporters loudly booed the players after the final whistle, prompting captain Mike Maignan to abandon a gesture of appreciation toward the fans.

AC Milan endured a miserable Sunday away trip, suffering a 2-0 loss to Sassuolo in Serie A before facing the wrath of their own travelling supporters at the final whistle.

Domenico Berardi opened the scoring early for the hosts, before Armand Lauriente doubled the advantage against a Milan side reduced to ten men. Fikayo Tomori received his marching orders in the 24th minute following two bookable offences.

The Rossoneri are enduring a dreadful conclusion to the 2025-26 campaign, having secured merely four points from their previous five outings. During this poor sequence, they have suffered reverses against Udinese, Napoli and now Sassuolo.

Should Juventus defeat already-relegated Hellas Verona later this evening, Milan could slip to fourth position in the standings by Monday morning.

The travelling faithful made their anger impossible to ignore following the defeat. Rather than approaching the stand to acknowledge their supporters, the Milan squad remained in the centre circle, drawing loud jeers from the distant terraces.

According to Sky Sport Italia, captain Mike Maignan initially attempted to guide his teammates towards the supporters to offer applause. However, upon hearing the hostile reception, the goalkeeper reversed course toward the tunnel, intensifying the fans’ fury.

The San Siro club must now regroup ahead of next Sunday’s home fixture against Atalanta. Encounters with Genoa and Cagliari will follow as they attempt to salvage something from the closing stages of the 2025-26 season.