Ligue 1 star misses training as Chelsea switch looms large

Chelsea star Edouard Mendy almost gave up football six years ago

Edouard Mendy misses Rennes training as he edges closer to Chelsea switch

According to the Daily Star, Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is closing in on a transfer to Chelsea.

The 28-year-old was missing from team training earlier today to attend a meeting with club chiefs. Once completed, he will become the Blues seventh first-team signing of the summer. (h/t Daily Star)

Chelsea are keen to bring in a new goalkeeper and have zeroed in on the Senegalese international. He already has the blessings of Chelsea’s technical director Petr Cech and head of goalkeeping Christophe Lollichon.

Edouard Mendy is closing in on a move to Chelsea

The arrival of Mendy will add further pressure on current number one Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard has been largely unreliable and made a number of errors last season.

Hopefully being pushed by Mendy will see him step up and be counted. It was revealed earlier this week that Kepa is keen to stay and fight for his place at the club.

The Blues have recruited well and look set to challenge at the top for the forseeable future. It remains to be seen who among Kepa and Mendy will win the goalkeeping rivalry.

Frank Lampard is not convinced by Kepa Arrizabalaga

Mendy signed for Rennes last summer and has since played 34 times for the club. He helped Rennes finish in third place and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

While it is unlikely that many would have pictured Chelsea going for Mendy when the window opened, the statistics speak for themselves.

Mendy ranked ninth among goalkeepers in the top five European leagues with an average save success with 75.3%. This is much better than Kepa who came last with 53.9%. (h/t Football.london)

Petr Cech is a fan of Mendy