Milan’s bold goalkeeper gamble: Lunín on the radar as Maignan’s future hangs in balance

Milan on the lookout for a new goalkeeper

Milan is looking to strengthen its goalkeeping situation should Mike Maignan decide not to renew his contract, and has earmarked Ukrainian keeper Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid as a leading option on the negotiating table.

Italian outlet Calcio Mercato reports Milan's move comes amid ongoing fears over France's standout goalkeeper's departure after a superb season.

Maignan's consistently high-level performances have made him one of Milan's top stars recently, reaffirming his status as a true leader since arriving with the Rossoneri, save for occasional brief dips.

Part of Milan's early-season sparkle and continued title-chasing form is credited to the French keeper's standout display, a figure also central to one of the transfer market's most intricate negotiations.

Maignan's contract runs until June 30, 2026, and there are no clear signals yet on an extension, despite efforts from coach Massimiliano Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare to persuade him.

Allegri, Tari, and a handful of teammates managed to deter Maignan from moving to Chelsea at the start of last summer, when the English side, led by Enzo Maresca, offered about 15 million euros with a promise of a starting role at the Club World Cup in June and July, which Chelsea later clinched.

Nevertheless, the relatively cool relationship between Maignan's agent and Milan's management slowed any hopeful progress about his future. In January last year Milan attempted to sign him to a new deal worth around 5 million euros a year, but later backed away, leaving Mike earning just under 3 million.

Milan's new plan is to sign Andriy Lunín, the Ukrainian who sits as backup to Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid.

The Ukrainian's deal with Real Madrid runs until 2030 and is valued at roughly 25 million euros.

Lunin is represented by Jorge Mendes, who has brokered several Milan deals recently, such as loaning Joao Felix from Chelsea last January and the purchase of Ecuadorian defender Pervis Estupiñán from Brighton last summer.

And Luka Modrić, who shared seven years with Lunin at Real Madrid and has kept a good relationship since his departure, could provide crucial backing to seal the deal.

PUNCHLINE 1: If Milan signs Lunín, their defense finally gets a plot twist worth clapping for. PUNCHLINE 2: With Modrić in the corner, contract talks might as well come with a built-in laugh track.