Chelsea are reportedly set to complete the signing of Edouard Mendy in a deal worth £18 million, with the 28-year-old arriving as competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
According to the reliable Matt Law of Daily Telegraph, Chelsea are highly confident of securing the services of Edouard Mendy, who will become the seventh summer signing for the first-team. The Senegalese goalkeeper will cost the Blues in the region of £18 million, with Rennes ready to part with him.
Mendy joined Rennes from Reims last summer and enjoyed a fine maiden campaign at Roazhon Park. After taking little time to establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for Les Rennais, the 28-year-old has gone on to make 34 appearances for the club, keeping 13 clean sheets in the process.
Chelsea expect to complete the signing of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy ‘within days’, reports @SJohnsonSport pic.twitter.com/Z6aW9R9ZzY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 7, 2020
His progress at Rennes has not gone unnoticed in the slightest, with Chelsea setting their sights on him. That former Rennes goalkeeper and Blues legend Petr Cech is now technical and performance advisor at Stamford Bridge also helped them identify Mendy as a possible summer recruit, although the Blues had their opening bid for him being rejected by the Ligue 1 outfit.
The interest from Chelsea in Mendy is understandable as well, considering the struggles of Kepa Arrizabalaga last season. The Spaniard, who arrived at the west London club as the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, has blown hot and cold during his time at Stamford Bridge.
His second season, in particular, was quite forgettable to say the least, with Frank Lampard left unimpressed by the former Athletic Bilbao custodian; so much so, that the Chelsea boss even axed Kepa from the side for stretched periods on a couple of occasions.
Indeed, Kepa ended the season on the bench after Willy Caballero usurped him for a second time in the season. However, with Caballero now 38, Chelsea need to look for a younger option to challenge Kepa in the upcoming season, which is why they stepped up the pursuit of Mendy in recent weeks.
The Premier League heavyweights have been very active in the transfer window this summer having already completed six signings for the first-team, the latest being German international Kai Havertz. And, as per the report, Chelsea expect to make Mendy their seventh summer arrival, set to join the club in a deal worth £18 million.
Meanwhile, Kepa intends to stay and fight for the first-choice goalkeeping spot at Chelsea, who are unlikely to receive any bids for the Spaniard anyway. All that now remains is the official confirmation, especially if suggestions by the reliable Matt Law are anything to go by, with the £18 million deal for Mendy set to be completed.