Reports have emerged that Chelsea backup goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to leave at the end of the season after rejecting a new contract. The Senegal international deemed the contract ‘disrespectful’ and reportedly wanted pay parity with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who earns around £200,000 per week. Chelsea has so far refused to offer improved terms, leading to speculation about who could replace Mendy in the squad.
Todd Boehly, the chairman of the board of directors at Chelsea, reportedly has a ‘clear idea’ to replace Mendy with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana. However, the Italian club is not interested in Chelsea’s offer of Mendy plus cash for their goalkeeper. They would need a cash-only offer to consider parting with Onana, who has kept 14 clean sheets and conceded 22 goals in 27 games this season.
Chelsea is not the only team interested in signing Onana. Manchester United could also join the race as they look to replace David De Gea. However, former United striker Louis Saha believes that United should consider Mendy as a potential replacement.
Despite losing his position in the starting XI to Kepa this season, Mendy was named the Best goalkeeper in 2021 following his fine performances in the Champions League for Chelsea. He was signed from Rennes in a deal worth £22 million and played a crucial role in Chelsea‘s Champions League win last season.
It remains to be seen whether Boehly will be able to land his top target in Onana and how Chelsea will move forward if Mendy leaves the club. They may need to consider other transfer options, including potentially promoting Gabriel Slonina, who was signed in the summer, to compete with Kepa for a starting spot in the team.
The situation highlights the importance of maintaining healthy relationships between players and clubs. Mendy’s decision to leave Chelsea because he felt undervalued demonstrates the need for clubs to treat players fairly and ensure that they are compensated appropriately. Failure to do so could result in the loss of important players and disrupt team dynamics, which could ultimately affect on-field performances.
