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Chelsea will reportedly assess their options in the goalkeeping department in the coming months with Edouard Mendy’s contract situation yet to be resolved.
Mendy, signed in 2020, is contracted to the club until 2025 but is rumoured to have rejected the offer of an extension.
The 30-year-old was instrumental as the Blues lifted the 2020-21 Champions League, winning both the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and the FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper awards for his performances as he became the first shot-stopper to register nine clean sheets in a debut campaign in Europe’s premier club competition.
However, the Senegalese stopper has missed new manager Graham Potter’s first two games in charge with a knee injury, with Kepa Arrizabalaga stepping in.
The Spaniard has impressed Potter, with the 47-year-old praising him after the 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace last weekend.
“I thought he did really well. He made a couple of big saves but also, his distribution in terms of his decision-making was really strong,” Potter told reporters.
Mendy could face a battle to win back his position in the starting XI, with Kepa’s ability to play out from the back potentially keeping him ahead in the pecking order.
The Telegraph reports that the club will assess their goalkeeping options with the contract situation of Mendy looming and doubts remaining over Kepa’s ability.
The club spent approximately £300m in the summer, including the £6.75m addition of 18-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, and are understood to hold an interest in Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and RB Leipzig duo Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea have a pre-contract agreement with the latter, according to numerous reports, so will need to raise money to keep funding their business.
Selling one of their goalkeepers could be a solution, if Slonina is deemed to be ready for a first-team berth, Kepa is considered not good enough or Mendy’s contract talks remain at an impasse.