Arsenal are leading the race for the signature of Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
According to a report by SPORT, Arsenal and Tottenham are keen on having Ferland Mendy in their ranks. The 27-year-old full-back has struggled with injuries in the ongoing season, and his future at Real Madrid is uncertain.
Mendy came into the limelight while playing for Lyon. He had two impressive seasons with the French club. And, Real Madrid came calling soon, with the 27-year-old joining Los Blancos in the summer of 2019. The French international has been involved in 131 matches and has 15 goal contributions to his name.
He played an important role in helping them win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga last season. However, the ongoing season has not gone according to plan for the full-back. The 27-year-old has been involved in just 26 matches and has an assist to his name. The French full-back has been on the pitch for under 2,000 minutes.
Injuries have been a major hurdle for Mendy and they might result in his departure from Real Madrid. While his contract at the club runs until the summer of 2025, Carlo Ancelotti is not keen on having him in his ranks. The Italian manager does not count on him for the next season and has asked him to look for a move elsewhere.
Los Blancos acquired his services for a fee of around €48 million. And, they wanted to earn around €40-50 million by offloading him. However, because of his injuries and inconsistency, they are forced to lower their asking price. As per the report, they might settle for a fee close to €20 million.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Tottenham are two clubs keen on having the Frenchman in their ranks. Spurs are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of next season with an aim to end their trophy drought. And, they would like to incorporate a full-back with the qualities of Mendy. However, they are behind Arsenal in the race.
The Gunners want to further strengthen the left side of their defence and believe adding Mendy could bolster it. With Mikel Arteta’s team set to feature in the Champions League next season, Arsenal are in a better position than Tottenham to attract the French full-back. And, his arrival will surely help them push for both the Premier League and the UCL.
