According to recent reports, the future of Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy remains uncertain as he prepares for crucial talks with the club. The 31-year-old shot-stopper has returned to full training this week after undergoing finger surgery in January, which kept him out of action for a lengthy period.
Mendy has been unavailable since returning from the World Cup, where he helped Senegal reach the last-16. Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to continue as the first-choice goalkeeper, having already made 25 appearances this season. Mendy has only started eight Premier League games in the 2022/23 campaign, with just two of those coming since Graham Potter took over from Thomas Tuchel.
Reports suggest that Chelsea is struggling to secure a new deal with Mendy, who is under contract until 2025. New owner Todd Boehly is keen to avoid any player’s deal running under the two-year mark, following the loss of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen for free last summer. However, talks between Mendy and the club have failed to reach a successful conclusion.
Chelsea is understood to be prioritising other players’ contracts ahead of Mendy’s, including Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante, who is set to return to Potter’s squad for the home game against Everton on Saturday. The club will assess their goalkeeping situation in the summer, with Brentford’s David Raya, Brighton’s Robert Sanchez and Leeds’ Ilan Meslier all potential replacements if Mendy departs.
Raya, in particular, has emerged as a highly-rated Premier League goalkeeper, with Manchester United and Tottenham monitoring him closely. Brentford is thought to be looking for a fee in the region of £40 million for the 27-year-old.
Despite Mendy’s uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, he has kept an impressive 49 clean sheets in 104 games for Chelsea. He also played a crucial role in helping the club win the Champions League in 2021. However, it remains to be seen whether he will continue as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper or move on to pastures new in the summer.
In conclusion, Chelsea faces a crucial decision regarding their goalkeeping situation in the coming months. While Mendy has been a reliable performer for the Blues, his lack of game time this season and contract situation have raised doubts about his future at the club. With several potential replacements available, Chelsea must weigh up their options carefully before making a final decision.