Chelsea have reportedly submitted an improved bid for Rennes’ Senegal international goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 28 year-old keeper is rumoured to be a target for Frank Lampard‘s side, who conceded 54 league goals last campaign, setting their second-worst defensive record since the Premier League‘s inception.
According to reports from RMC Sport via The Metro, Mendy has already agreed terms to a five-year contract with the Stamford Bridge club and has informed his current club of his desire to join the west London side.
Romano suggested that the club have increased their offer for Mendy and expect to finalise a deal later today, having had a €20 million bid rejected by the Ligue 1 club, who value the ‘keeper at €28 million.
Chelsea’s Kepa situation
Mendy has been considered to become The Blues‘ new number one and would succeed Kepa Arrizabalaga, who cost a reported world-record £72 million from Athletic Bilbao in August 2018.
The Spaniard kept just eight clean sheets in the league last season and lost his starting-place to Willy Caballero on the final day of the league campaign.
He missed the club’s subsequent matches in the FA Cup Final and their Champions League round of 16 exit to Bayern Munich, at the expense of the Argentine, as uncertainty grows over his Chelsea future.
Arrizabalaga has been awarded the number one jersey of the upcoming season, but could be forced to vacate the position between the posts, with the arrival of the Senegal stopper.
Who is Édouard Mendy?
The Senegalese kept 13 clean sheets from 33 appearances overall last campaign, his debut season since joining last August. He conceded 19 goals from the 24 league matches he played, prior to its abandonment in March.
Prior to joining Rennes, Mendy spent three years at Reims. In his final season, he kept 15 clean sheets from 41 games, keeping 36 clean sheets from 85 appearances overall for the latter.
It remains to be seen whether The Blues can land Mendy in time for their league opener away at Brighton on Monday. The player is allegedly eager for the Premier League, but Romano insisted that Rennes president Nicolas Holveck would have the final say.
He could become Chelsea’s seventh high-profile signing this summer since Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz.
- Meet Ethan Pocic’s wife Heather as Jeffree Star tweet continues to puzzle
- Michael McKean aka ‘Lenny’ of Laverne & Shirley pays tribute to Cindy Williams
- Is the Sean Payton movie on Netflix? Where to stream Home Team
- Who is Henry Anderson’s wife Saryn? Jeffree Star tweet sends fans Googling
- Who is OussiFooty? Age, real name and nationality of TikTok footballer