Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy has reportedly turned down a contract extension as the Blues aim to secure the long-term future of their No.1.
The Senegal stopper arrived at Stamford Bridge in September 2020. The Blues paid French side Rennes for £22m for the 30-year-old and he penned a five-year deal. Chelsea officials want the player to extend his deal though after working his way to the club’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
Mendy arrived as competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga, but he soon asserted himself as Fran Lampard’s best option. And the France-born keeper has continued a Thomas Tuchel’s No.1.
His form this season though has been questioned. He has a couple of big blunders, one of which contributed to the defeat at Leeds. He was caught in possession inside his own six-yard box by Brenden Aaronson and the Leeds man ran the ball into an empty net.
It was described as a “huge mistake” by Tuchel, but the keeper was at it again at home to West Ham. Fortunately Maxwel Cornet’s goal was struck off after Mendy rushed out to Jarrod Bowen leaving Cornet to score.
Tuchel though has offered support to Mendy, who has started every game this season.
“I think it’s a very sensitive position in football in general. And it’s not everything that’s just pure quality and only about decision-making,” Tuchel said. “It’s also about the feeling and the feeling that you feel the confidence and sometimes it’s a bit of also having the luck.
Kepa contract complicating Mendy renewal
“Somebody sent me an interesting quote about Napoleon, who asked his generals if they should not only have the best quality, but he needs also that they are lucky generals.
“So, this is what you need also from leaders and from goalkeepers. And that they have the kind of momentum that if they do a little mistake, it’s not punished. Now, he gets punished a lot for not a lot of what he does wrong. But there are no doubts in my mind.
“The situation is calm. We have two fantastic goalkeepers, two fantastic guys. We are aware of it that [Mendy] is in that kind of situation, but first, we deal inside and then we tell you.”
Tuchel is so convinced by the player that he wants to secure him beyond his 2025 contract end date.
The Evening Standard claims the player has rejected Chelsea’s first offer.
The reason documented is that the offer was less than the £190,000-a-week wages that No.2 Kepa Arrizabalaga earns. The source states Mendy’s case is “more complex” than the recent renewal of Reece James.
Kepa is sitting on a huge contract until 2025 after arriving for a £72m fee – a world-record for a goalkeeper. Things have not gone as expected though for the Spaniard since his 2018 transfer.
He has made 124 appearances for the club. But he made just four Premier League starts last season and is firmly behind Mendy in the pecking order.
Mount next in line at Chelsea
So much so that the 27-year-old tried to find a way out of the club this summer.
Mendy is understood to be one of the club’s most modest earners and his representatives are trying to put that right.
Chelsea will no doubt be ready to make another offer to the player, but he may have to wait until Mason Mount’s deal has been ratified.
Mount has spoken to Todd Boehly about a new deal with two years remaining for the England star.
“I’ve been here since six years old, so I think maybe over the next couple of months the talks will start, so obviously it’s exciting,” said the 23-year-old over the summer.
Mount can expect to become one of their top earners and will likely get a deal similar to James’ six-year contract worth £250,000-a-week.
Mendy though, who turns 31 next March, is not seen as such a saleable asset may just have to be content with significantly less.
