Chelsea have begun their pursuit of a new goalkeeper with a bid for Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, but it was rejected. Now, Chelsea are ready to make a second move – but not for Svilar.
Filip Jorgensen has asked to leave Chelsea, and Robert Sanchez’s future at Stamford Bridge is in doubt too, after an inconsistent season between the sticks. There is said to be some Saudi interest in Sanchez.
Mike Penders will return to Chelsea from his loan at Strasbourg this summer, with some reports claiming he might be first choice. But at 20 years old, it would be a risk to throw the Belgian in at the deep end.
Which goalkeeper do you want Chelsea to sign this summer?
Roma's Mile Svilar has been linked.
Chelsea need to sign a new first-choice goalkeeper. Reports say the club has compiled a six-man list of options which includes Premier League trio Robin Roefs, Bart Verburggen and Jordan Pickford.
Now, Chelsea have made their first move. Earlier this year, the Blues were linked with Roma’s Svilar and this week, Italian reports claim Chelsea made a £43m bid for his services. But the bid was turned down.
Chelsea turn to Mike Maignan after Mile Svilar bid rejected
Rated highly in Italy, Svilar enjoyed an impressive 2025-26 season at Roma. But Chelsea have seen an offer turned down, and at north of £40m, it is unclear if the Blues are going to increase their first bid.
What is emanating from Italy now is that Chelsea are set to make a move for Mike Maignan instead. Of course, Chelsea have been strongly linked with Maignan in the past, but he signed a new deal in January.
As per Milan News, Chelsea will now turn their attention to Maignan. France’s no.1 goalkeeper is one of the six goalkeepers listed alongside Diogo Costa and Marco Carnesecchi, and a move is now expected.
Maignan signed a new deal in January, but after Milan’s disappointing end to the season, in which they only finished in seventh and qualified for the Conference League, Maignan is considering his options.
Mile Svilar or Mike Maignan? They’re 2025-26 stats compared
Last season, Svilar clocked up 18 Serie A clean sheets – second only to Como’s Jean Butez. Maignan was in joint-fourth, with 14th. Of course, clean sheets are reliant on defences, so it does not tell the whole story.
Chelsea aren’t going to find a better goalkeeper on the market than Robert Sanchez…
Should have signed Mike Maignan when we had the chance!
Dig a little deeper and the comparison between the two goalkeepers is intriguing. Svilar boasts the best save percentage in Italy’s top tier, stopping 77.5% of all shots he faced compared to Maignan’s 75.5%.
Only a difference of 2%, with Carnesecchi sandwiched between them. Interestingly, Maignan tops the list for goals prevented, supposedly stopping 10.5, miles ahead of Roma’s Svilar, who stopped only 4.7.
When it comes to average saves per 90 minutes, typically, the two are evenly matched, both around the 2.9 mark. Both stoppers are excellent, but Maignan edges Svilar for aura and ability to cope with pressure.
As Liam Rosenior found out, that is something required when playing or managing Chelsea. Good players and coaches fold when they get to a club like Chelsea. Maignan has the means to deal with that.
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