Chelsea
are close to agreeing a deal to sign goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from French
club Rennes.
The goalkeeper would become Chelsea's eighth signing of the summer following
the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Xavier Mbuyamba, Ben Chilwell,
Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Kai Havertz.
If the deal can be tied up, Mendy would compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga and
Willy Caballero to be the club's first-choice 'keeper.
Mendy did not train with Rennes on Friday morning, even though they are
playing Nimes on Sunday.
He was, though, at the Rennes training ground with his representative for
talks with the club.
Mendy has already told Rennes he wants to move to Chelsea.
The 28-year-old would be following in the footsteps of Petr Cech, who made
the same move from Rennes to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004.
Cech is now Chelsea's technical director and will almost certainly have been
involved in identifying Mendy as a transfer target.
Chelsea, who conceded 54 goals in 38 Premier League games last season - the
most of any top-half side, were also said to be interested in another Ligue
1 goalkeeper in Lille's Mike Maignan.
However, Lille wanted £32m for the 25-year-old, which was some way higher
than the expected £22m valuation of the player.
Chelsea have also been linked with several other goalkeepers, including Jan
Oblak, Nick Pope and Andre Onana.
Lampard ambitions
Armed with an expensive new squad, the pressure will be Frank Lampard on to
deliver.
Ahead of the new season, we look at Chelsea's strengths, weaknesses and what
the targets will be for boss Lampard.
Read the full feature here.
What makes Havertz special?
Sky Sports feature writer Adam Bate takes a look at the inside story of Kai
Havertz and his Bayer Leverkusen rise.
In conversation with Kai Havertz's former coach, the player's journey is
traced from his breakthrough season to the superstar of today, identifying
the qualities that make him so special.
Read the full feature here.
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