With a smart free move during the January window, Chelsea might finally fulfill Enzo Maresca’s need for reinforcements in one crucial position. Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and Alejandro Garnacho were among the ten players the West London giants added during a hectic summer.
They sold out-of-favor goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to rival Arsenal for £5 million and Djordje Petrovic to Bournemouth for almost £25 million, but they did not improve the goalkeeping department.
Chelsea and Mike Maignan of AC Milan were frequently connected over the summer. The 30-year-old was expected to move to Stamford Bridge, but since they couldn’t agree on a price, the Blues finally lost interest in the Frenchman.
The Serie A team was reportedly requesting a sum of around £21 million, according to a story from The Guardian at the time. Chelsea thought this amount was excessive for a player with only one year remaining on his contract.
Blues could have completed Semenyo transfer for just £2m
Naturally, Chelsea is not the only team that has thought about acquiring Semenyo. In recent weeks and months, the player has been extensively sought after by Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United in anticipation of a possible January transfer.
Tottenham, a rival team in London, is also rumored to be interested in signing him, although they have always been outsiders. The two Manchester clubs have reportedly had the most substantive discussions with the players’ agents so far.
Chelsea will now devote all of their attention to their forthcoming Premier League matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa. If Semenyo’s release clause is activated in the coming days, the Cherries’ trip to Stamford Bridge on December 30 may be his final game for the south coast team.
After 17 games, Maresca’s team is presently ranked fourth in the Premier League. They need to make further progress to qualify for the Champions League the next season because they are tied with Liverpool on points.
