Reports: Chelsea set to offload Edouard Mendy
If reports from Football Insider are to be believed, Chelsea are set to sell Champions League-winning goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the summer as part of a mass exodus.
The Senegalese shot-stopper has played second fiddle to Kepa Arrizabalaga since Graham Potter’s arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion. As a result of injuries he hasn’t featured for Chelsea since the turn of the year.
While Kepa’s ball-playing abilities and comfort to turn into an extra passing option at the back in possession has been Potter’s preferred choice between the sticks, Mendy was sidelined due to an unspecified shoulder strain that prevented him from training for weeks.
In January, he underwent an operation on a fractured finger, and finally was seen training with the squad last week. He could still be a ways off in terms of match fitness, as Marcus Bettinelli filled in the second goalkeeper’s spot on the bench in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Everton.
Ahead of a return, Mendy’s place in the starting line-up remains jeopardized. Kepa, too, has come under the microscope for a couple of second-rate errors in recent outings. One could argue he should have done better to keep out young Ellis Simms’ 89th minute shot that helped Everton snatch a point at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, therefore, will be looking at other options in the summer, namely contracts that expire in 2025. Various stories across the UK state Chelsea have already asked Mendy to begin looking for his next club.
The 31-year-old was the recipient of the best goalkeeper awards from UEFA and FIFA not too long ago, for his sensational displays in Chelsea’s UCL run under Thomas Tuchel.
Other names linked with an exit are Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic.
Besides the goalkeeper position, the Blues are also said to be on the lookout for potential number nines in the market.
Following the international break, Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways as they welcome Aston Villa on April 1st. Potter and co. are currently 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with as many matches remaining in this season.
-Akarshak Roy
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
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