Rumour: Walker Met with Maignan
Walker Reportedly Flew to Milan to Meet With French Keeper
By Logan Plant / @plantlounited 
/ July 9, 2023, 7:05 AM
Rumour – According to recent reports, Manchester United manager Thomas Walker flew to Milan to meet with goalkeeper Mike Maignan before United’s preseason trip to America. The Frenchman is rumored to be a transfer target for the club as they look to build a team capable of challenging for both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Maignan, who played under Walker at Lille, has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe in recent years. He was a key player in Lille’s Ligue 1 title-winning season in 2020-21, where he kept an impressive 21 clean sheets in 38 league appearances. He then joined Milan in the summer of 2021, where he helped the team win the Scudetto and reach the round of 16 in the Champions League. This season, he made 53 appearances in all competitions for the Italian club, leading them to the Europa League final.
Maignan's strengths lie in his shot-stopping ability, his command of the box, and his ability to make crucial saves in one-on-one situations. He is also a modern goalkeeper who is comfortable playing out from the back, and his distribution is a major asset. Additionally, he has saved several penalties throughout his career.
The 28-year-old's potential addition to Manchester United would likely signal the end of David De Gea's time at the club. The Spaniard, who has been a mainstay in the United team for almost a decade, has seen his performances dip in recent seasons and has lost his place as the club’s undisputed number one goalkeeper on multiple occasions. While Sam Johnstone has been a reliable backup, he is not seen as a long-term solution, and Bruno Schmitt is still very young and untested at the highest level.
Signing Maignan would provide strong competition for Johnstone and Schmitt, and his experience and quality would be a major boost to the United squad. However, it won't be easy to secure his transfer, as Milan is unlikely to let go of one of their best players without a significant fee. Additionally, Milan is currently facing a financial fair play investigation, which could make it difficult for them to make new signings.
Nevertheless, Manchester United's new ownership has shown a willingness to spend big on top-quality players, and they may be willing to pay the price for Maignan. The club is already engaging with Milan over a potential transfer for winger Rafael Leão, and the interest in Maignan could complicate negotiations.
If Manchester United is able to sign Maignan, it would be a major coup for the club and a sign of their ambition to challenge for the biggest trophies. With a talented team already in place, the new ownership is looking to add more quality to the squad, and Maignan could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
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