Exclusive: Chelsea open preliminary talks to sign goalkeeper, £45m will seal deal

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Published on:

27 Aug 2020, 6:06 am

Chelsea have held preliminary talks with Rennes over the signing of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

While the Blues are yet to lodge a formal bid for the 28-year-old the two clubs are far apart in their valuation for the player.

A source at Stamford Bridge has told Football Insider that Rennes want up to £45million for their number one but Chelsea are only willing to pay £22million.

The French club's valuation represents a mammoth increase on the fee they paid for the Senegal international just 12 months ago.

Rennes signed Mendy from Reims for just £3.6million in August 2019 and a £45m deal with Chelsea would mean his value has risen by over 10 times in one season.

He impressed in his 33 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit last season and kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions.

The Ligue 1 season commenced last weekend and Mendy started the 1-1 draw with Lille.

The Senegalese goalkeeper still has three years remaining on his contract at the Roazhon Park having penned a four-year deal last year.

Frank Lampard is in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer having lost faith in current number one goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Football Insider revealed last month that the Spanish shot-stopper could exit Stamford Bridge this summer as the club look to sell.

Kepa was signed for £71million in August 2018 and is still the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.

He still has five years left on his contract in London and the Blues will hope to recoup as much of the mammoth fee paid for his services as they can.

It comes as part of a huge summer overhaul at the Bridge which has already seen the arrival of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell

While deals for Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice remain in the pipeline.

In other Chelsea news, Frank McAvennie has tipped Rice to exit West Ham after major update.

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