Given his status as one of the best in the world in his position, Mike Maignan is one of those AC Milan players that never seems to be out of the headlines for long.
At the time of writing halfway through the March international break, there are quite a few stories doing the rounds regarding Maignan from his physical condition to his contract and of course the interest of top clubs.
Our colleagues at SempreMilan.it have provided a round-up of where exactly various things stand related to the goalkeeper.
The injury
Le Parisien reported a few days ago that Maignan had not trained with the rest of his team-mates under the orders of Didier Deschamps at Clairefontaine as they prepared for their friendlies against Germany and Chile.
The 28-year-old arrived at the camp after a troubled week: first he suffered a strong impact to the knee during the Europa League win against Slavia Praha, then a possible muscular problem that occurred after a spectacular and unusual save he made at the end of the victory over Verona.
Before leaving for the national team, the tests he underwent in Milan had highlighted the total absence of injuries or involvement in the knee ligaments.
According to what was then stated by MilanNews, the goalkeeper’s double absence from training with the French national team is part of a discussion between the Milan and the France medical staff.
The Rossoneri advised them to let the goalkeeper have a few days of ‘rest’ to avoid any kind of problem flaring up. We will see if he takes to the field in the next game against Chile, but the fact he has not left the camp suggests it is not a major issue.
The renewal
In the meantime, however, the Rossoneri management is increasingly aware of the need to act quickly to renew Maignan’s contract.
The Frenchman is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has a contract expiring in 2026, so while there is time on Milan’s side they want to avoid the current deadline being an issue.
In the meantime, Calciomercato.com are claiming that the demands are quite alarming. In order to extend his current deal, probably until 2028, the entourage of the former Lille man expect an offer equal to or greater than Rafael Leao’s €7m net per year.
Mike Maignan has saved 3 of the 19 penalties he has faced at #ACMilan (vs. Liverpool 2021-22, vs. Sassuolo 2022-23 and vs. Napoli 2022-23).
However, since stopping Kvaratskhelia’s in the second leg of the #UCL quarter-finals on 18 April 2023, he has let in 11 in a row. pic.twitter.com/fjOMS3diS7
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 28, 2024
Maignan currently gets €2.8m per season, and he wants similar if not even greater recognition after the Portuguese winger extended last year. For the moment, Milan’s idea is to propose doubling his salary, therefore reaching €5.5m per year instead.
The gap is significant but not impossible to close as per the source. There have already been ‘extensive contacts ‘between the parties, to mark the beginning of a complicated negotiation but which involves optimism and the desire to find a meeting point.
The links
However, what is becoming apparent is that Maignan’s agents might have quite a bit of leverage when it comes to what they can demand because of the sheer amount of links surrounding him.
Bayern Munich are thinking of the France number one for the post-Neuer era, while Chelsea are keen too having been interesting in the past. As per that Calciomercato.com report, Milan want €100m minimum to come to the negotiating table, the same value given to compatriot Theo Hernandez.
Meanwhile, after the confirmation of a new injury for Thibaut Courtois – one which will leave him out of action for two months – Real Madrid are considering signing a new starting goalkeeper in the summer.
Courtois had just returned from a serious cruciate ligament injury that had kept him away from the pitch since last August. The new problem seems to have made Los Blancos management run out of patience and they are now looking towards Maignan.
He is not the only option though, because Porto’s Diogo Costa is mentioned as is the idea of giving current back-up Andriy Lunin a more prominent role.
The dilemma
As was the case last summer, Milan do not need to sell their best players to finance further investments in their squad, because they are in a very healthy position from an economic perspective.
However, no player is deemed unsellable as the Sandro Tonali case shows, and this is where the club need to evaluate their options when big offers come in.
Tuttosport stated over the weekend that the club could be in a similar position to last year where they sell a big player to invest where they need to, and the player being considered for this currently is Mike Maignan.
The Diavolo have no interest in selling Rafael Leao or Theo Hernandez unless a crazy offer arrives. Whilst Maignan is still a key figure, he is seen as the ‘most expendable player of value’, and should an offer of €80m arrive he would be sold.
It seems strange to talk about the notion of letting an elite player leave. The mission for a club like Milan should always be to attract them, develop them and keep them, and yet with Maignan there seem to be few certainties.
He has undoubtedly won more points for Milan than he has lost, but with a potentially huge financial package needed to secure him long-term (especially with no Growth Decree) as well as his drop in form this season and continued injury issues, it doesn’t make sense to close and lock the door.
So he stopped 3 of his first 8 penalties faced, and then none since. Also, 58% of the pens he’s faced have come since that Napoli game, which is basically one season, while 42% are basically over two seasons. So, our rate of giving up penalties has increased. Further sign of an ailing defense. This isn’t on Mike, just another data point.
Maignan is one of the most valuable players for Milan. He has a massive impact on the results for Milan which is on par with Rafael Leao. Aside from that Maignan has an incredible attitude, which is good and very needed for the team. I hope they will be able to fund an attacker through other means.
Scouts better have the replacements lined up, if the demands are that high they’re not going to become realistic in the next 12 months. I hope he commits long term but if that’s not going to happen then time to sell him to someone who will pay that.
There’s no dilemma for Maignan. He’s the best goalie to have at price 15m Di Gregorio isn’t worth the time and money and I’m sure that we aren’t spending more than 20m so.. renew him ASAP
Should have renewed while the Growth Decree was still active. Mistake #1.
In my personal opinion 5m euro nett + 1m euro bonus already fair offer for maignan . His injury too long if he get an injury,his performance dropped in last season and this season . Leao get 5m euro nett + bonus 2m euro, not good idea give GK salary equal to number 10 player. If he refuse renewal , just ask Bayern Muenchen help for zirkzee then swap him with maignan
Swap Zirksee to Maignan It really good idea for Bayern not for Milan.