Chelsea is continuing their impressive spending spree this summer. According to influential Italian transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League side is closing in on securing the services of Rennes’ goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Reportedly, Chelsea will splash $23 million on their new signing, although the worth of Mendy’s transfer could potentially rise to $32 million based on bonuses.
If the deal goes through, Mendy would be Chelsea’s seventh high-profile signing this summer after Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, and Kai Havertz.
Chelsea has been on the market for a goalkeeper since January, being unpleased with performances of Kepa Arrizabalaga. Despite being the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, arriving to London for around $95 million, Kepa was error-prone in the past two seasons and made the club look somewhere else.
Chelsea would ideally want to sell Kepa, but the 25-year-old goalie is likely to stay due to lack of suitors. Also, the player himself wants to remain with the club as he reportedly believes he can resurrect his career at Stamford Bridge.
Edouard Mendy enjoyed a stellar campaign with Rennes last season, helping the club to secure a UEFA Champions League spot and commanding over the league’s second-best defense. Mendy, who previously played with Marseille and Reims, collected 13 clean sheets in all competitions during 2019/20.
