Chelsea might say they’re not in a rush to get a new goalkeeper this summer, but behind closed doors, the club is working hard to find one of Europe’s top talents. Their two main targets? Mike Maignan from AC Milan and Marc-André ter Stegen from FC Barcelona.
Both goalkeepers are considered some of the best in the world. Chelsea believes signing either of them could quickly make the team even stronger—not just in the Premier League, but also in the Champions League, which is one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world.
Two Goalkeeping Stars on Chelsea’s Radar
Mike Maignan is the number one goalkeeper for both AC Milan and the French national team. He’s known for being fast, smart, and amazing at saving penalties. In the 2021-2022 season, he helped AC Milan win their first Serie A title in over a decade! He was also named the Best Goalkeeper in Serie A that year.
Marc-André ter Stegen, meanwhile, plays for FC Barcelona and has been their top goalkeeper for several seasons. He’s also played for the German national team and has been one of the most consistent performers in La Liga. Ter Stegen is especially known for being calm under pressure and making excellent saves with both his hands and feet. In the 2022-2023 season, he won the Zamora Trophy, given to the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in La Liga.
Right now, it looks like Maignan is the more likely option for Chelsea. But both goalies are seen as special chances in the transfer market because they might be available at lower-than-usual prices.
Chelsea’s New Strategy: Smart Spending
In the past few years, Chelsea spent a lot of money—over £1 billion since 2022! That included big buys like:
Enzo Fernandez: Over £100 million
Moises Caicedo: Over £100 million
Wesley Fofana: Around £75 million
Because of all this, people started calling Chelsea the “Billionaire Boys” under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali. But things are changing now.
This summer, Chelsea is focused on spending more wisely. They’re trying to get good value instead of paying the highest prices. For example, they recently signed Liam Delap, a young striker with Premier League experience, for £30 million. Many fans and experts think that was a smart move.
Chelsea wants to continue making smart decisions like this. Their transfer targets include:
A goalkeeper
A centre-back
An attacking midfielder
Maybe another forward
They’re being careful not to overspend and are taking their time to make the right moves.
What’s Going On With Maignan and Ter Stegen?
Earlier this year, Chelsea walked away from deals for both Mike Maignan and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (a talented winger from Borussia Dortmund). But they didn’t close the door completely—they said they might return later.
Now, Chelsea is back in talks with Borussia Dortmund for Bynoe-Gittens and are ready to pay around £55 million, as long as the payment plan works for them.
As for Maignan, Milan first asked for £20 million, but Chelsea didn’t agree. Since Maignan’s contract ends in one year, Chelsea thinks they can get him for closer to £10 million. That would be a great bargain for such a high-quality goalkeeper!
Ter Stegen is also a surprise name that popped up on Chelsea’s radar. Barcelona just signed Joan Garcia from Espanyol to be their new first-choice goalkeeper, so Ter Stegen might be leaving soon. He could be a good-value option too.
The only challenge? Ter Stegen is a big-name player and might ask for high wages (a lot of money) to leave Barcelona.
More Smart Moves From Chelsea
Chelsea’s new smart strategy also showed when they tried to get Mohammed Kudus from West Ham. Instead of offering cash, Chelsea offered a swap deal with three players that West Ham already knew about. But West Ham said no—they want a cash deal.
This shows how Chelsea is trying to think creatively and not just throw money at every problem like they used to.
What About the Goalkeepers They Already Have?
Chelsea actually has a lot of goalkeepers:
Robert Sanchez
Filip Jorgensen
Djordje Petrovic
Gabriel Slonina
Mike Penders
Even with all these options, the club doesn’t feel totally confident in the position. They think they need a more dependable, world-class goalkeeper if they want to challenge for the biggest trophies again.
That’s why Maignan and Ter Stegen are being considered. Chelsea believes one of them could make a big difference in goal for years to come.
Chelsea’s Summer Could Still Be Busy
Right now, Chelsea isn’t in a rush to make a deal. They want to wait and see how the transfer market changes in the next few weeks. But if the right opportunity comes, they’re ready to act fast.
With the Club World Cup coming up and the return to the Champions League, Chelsea has some exciting months ahead. They’ve built most of their squad already, but just a few more smart signings could make a huge difference.
A Club With a Clearer Vision
After two years of wild spending, Chelsea is now acting more carefully. They’re thinking more about the long-term future instead of just short-term success. And now that they’re back in the Champions League, more players will want to join, even if Chelsea doesn’t pay the biggest salaries.
Chelsea may no longer be throwing money around like before, but make no mistake—they still want to win. The search for a top goalkeeper shows they’re serious about improving and competing at the highest level.
Whether it’s Mike Maignan or Marc-André ter Stegen, Chelsea is aiming to bring in someone special between the posts. And that could be the next big step in their journey back to the top of world football.
