AC Milan are continuing their attempts to get Mike Maignan to extend his contract, and are ready to give him a big pay rise.
Before Milan-Sassuolo, Igli Tare confirmed that the club are trying to convince Maignan to renew his contract, which expires on June 30. Time is not on their side, but the management are willing to make one final push, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below).
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Answer needed by February
The Frenchman’s renewal seemed a foregone conclusion in January, when negotiations fell through just short of a signature. Chelsea came knocking in the summer, but Massimiliano Allegri’s arrival ensured that he remained and became captain.
Tare told DAZN before the draw with Sassuolo: “Talking about Maignan is easy because he’s an extraordinary guy, a leader and a team player. We’re happy together: he likes being at Milan, and Milan are happy if Mike renews. We’re discussing the future, but let’s leave the numbers aside. We’ll have a chance to discuss this.”
It will happen in January, when the transfer window officially reopens. The Rossoneri don’t intend to let the former Lille man leave, even if an offer arrives during the winter mercato. At the same time, however, they can’t turn the renewal issue into a tense debate that will drag on until spring.
A yes or no is needed by February. Milan’s offer to Mike could match Leao’s €7m net per year salary (including bonuses) the highest-paid player in the squad. Maignan’s asking price was around €7.5m plus bonuses: it has been lowered, but there’s still no agreement.
Maignan has big value for the team outside of his GK qualities, which are indisputable. The issue should not be +/- 1-2M for the club – every replacement would be much more expensive + unpredictable in terms of results.
Easy to say all this sh*t when he’s in good form, can we stop pretending like he is never injured and always in form? There is a reason not many people are after him.
Pros and cons to giving him the money. And risky too. That’s my view on it. 😀
Can we stop pretending everyone is always in form and at his best? Been 2 years since his last more serious injury. Last season he was second for most minutes on field if I am not wrong. You cannot foresee the future. Some butthead can end his career tomorrow… We need leaders on the field that are not 40+ and he is a great example for the whole squad with his attitude and hard work. Not a fanboy observation, but the team’s – absolutely everyone in interviews is pointing this out.
Also on the injuries end, should we not go after Pulisic’s renewal because he was also considered made of glass and so far he missed half the matches this season?
Time out compared to other GKs or Milan’s outfield players? Comparing GK minutes missed due to injuries and outfield player minutes due to injuries is like comparing apples to oranges.
So he played 37 out of the 38 matches, which is all the same. His last major injury was 3 years ago and hopefully this is behind his back now.
The real issue is do you (the club) want to keep him or not. If you want to keep him (it seems the management wants to), but at the same time you try to play smart for a few million, you risk to spend 20M on top of his salary increase for a new GK.
If you don’t want to keep him, then let’s move on…
In February we won’t be able to cash in on him, unless we value him staying over short term gain and potentially a trophy