Chelsea supporters have been critical of some elements of the recent summer transfer window, however one decision they made could be explained as soon as January.
The Blues added big names such as Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian and Liam Delap to their first team squad over the summer, however not everyone was pleased with the business done.
Chelsea fans were unhappy with their window as the clock counted down on deadline day, with them believing some of their key targets had not been signed by the club.
One position which many hoped to be strengthened was goalkeeper, following an underwhelming campaign from Robert Sanchez as the number one.
Chelsea poised to make marquee signing in January
Mike Maignan was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea before the Club World Cup got underway, however when he visited Stamford Bridge over the summer it was as an AC Milan player for a pre-season friendly.
Transfer insider Graeme Bailey now believes the deal was not done because the club have the opportunity to get him to sign a pre-contract in January, allowing him to join for free when his contract runs out this summer.
He said: “From what I see, I think there’s a very good chance it’ll be Maignan, and I think we were really probably a bit guilty of not reading the room really. It’s like we did wonder publicly about why they’re not in for Donnarumma, why they’re not even in Emi Martinez when they try to sign Maignan in the summer just a matter of weeks ago.
“There’s our answer, isn’t it? The fact is they still want Maignan, they’ll be able to sign a pre-contract in a matter of weeks.”
Maignan signing would be music to Maresca’s ears
As the window wound down, it was not just Chelsea fans who were unhappy at the summer business. Enzo Maresca was fuming at the club for not bringing him his ideal targets.
These included a centre-back and a new goalkeeper, however the Italian has been forced to work with what he’s got for at least the first half of the campaign.
The boss has done a fine job since taking over at Stamford Bridge, leading the Blues to two trophies as well as a Champions League return in his first campaign in charge.
The club now need to repay Maresca by bringing him in the signings he desires, and a new goalkeeper the quality of Maignan is the perfect example of that.
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