Chelsea made AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan a key target in the first transfer window of the summer but could not get a deal over the line.
With Maignan turning 30 next month and into the final year of his contract, Chelsea felt that Milan’s valuation of the player was too high.
Milan wanted around £25m for Maignan, a fee that the Blues were simply unwilling to pay. The Frenchman is not the only footballer they could miss out on, though.
It is being reported that Chelsea are also very reluctant to overspend on another one of their targets in the next transfer window.
Chelsea won’t pay over the odds for Marc Guehi
Chelsea want both a new goalkeeper and central defender to strengthen their backline, and one centre-half the Blues are thought to be interested in is Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Last month, it was claimed that Chelsea are chasing Guehi after missing out on Dean Huijsen, who recently left Bournemouth for Real Madrid.
According to GiveMeSport, however, the club will not pay over the odds for Guehi. Like Maignan, the 24-year-old has also entered the final 12 months of his contract, meaning that he can leave Selhurst Park for nothing next summer.
He was a key player for Oliver Glasner’s side last season as they went on to win the FA Cup, so the Eagles will not want to lose him.
| Marc Guehi’s 2024/25 stats | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| Premier League | 34 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| FA Cup | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 44 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
But given his contract situation and Chelsea’s interest, an exit cannot be ruled out. Guehi has plenty of admirers in the game after impressing at both club and international level. Joe Hart described him as “exceptional” on BBC‘s Football Daily podcast after one England game last year.
Chelsea’s two alternatives to Marc Guehi
In the event that Chelsea decide not to sign Guehi, the Conference League winners do have alternatives to their former academy player.
Chelsea are also thought to have Tomas Araujo and Jarrad Branthwaite on their radar. However, the same GiveMeSport report says that there is an internal feeling at the club that they will be more difficult deals to do.
