Chelsea are searching for a new goalkeeper, and they have turned their attention to the city of Milan, hoping that they can entice either Andre Onana from Inter or Mike Maignan from AC Milan to join the English club.
American businessman Todd Boehly became a co-owner of the Blues since June 2022, and despite some extravagant spending on new players, the West London club could only finish 12th at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Onana is looking like the likely candidate as Inter would be open to selling the goalkeeper for a profit, and despite some assurances from the AC Milan hierarchy about the ambition of the club, Maignan was disappointed with the sacking of technical director Paolo Maldini.
Why should Chelsea sign Onana?
Onana has been with Inter for one season, and the Cameroon international played a fundamental part in the Nerazzurri reaching the Champions League final as well as winning the Coppa Italia.
The 27-year-old is open to staying at the club, but the Inter could sell him due to their financial problems. With a reported price tag of €40 million, his sale would represent a capital gain for the Biscione and that is seen as an affordable price for Chelsea.
New Blues coach Mauricio Pochettino would be able to integrate Onana into his team quickly. The Argentine implements aggressive pressing tactics so if the Londoners have a high defensive line, the Cameroonian can easily come off his line and clear the ball or pick a short pass. Not only is he great with his feet, but the 27-year-old is also an acrobatic shot-stopper and organiser.
Would Maignan be a better choice?
Maignan might be the hardest of the two to acquire because he seems well-settled at AC Milan and the Rossoneri are not prepared to sell the France international. However, if the Rossoneri do not show much ambition on the transfer market, the 27-year-old might have a change of heart and consider leaving the Italian giants.
He was a key part of AC Milan’s Serie A triumph in 2021/22 and also helped them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2022/23 campaign. Like Onana, he can operate as a sweeper-keeper, demonstrating his ability to make excellent passes and breathtaking saves.
However, Maignan could be seen as a less controversial figure than the Inter goalkeeper. Onana was banned for 12 months in February 2021 for taking the drug Furosemide when he played for Ajax, and he was kicked out of the Cameroon squad at the 2022 World Cup after criticising the tactics of coach Rigobert Song.
