Chelsea enquire after Rennes goalkeeper Édouard Mendy — report

There’s a new name in the Chelsea goalkeeper rumor mill this weekend with the Mail reporting that Chelsea have “asked about” Stade Rennais goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

There’s no word on what reply Rennes may have given to the enquiry, but it’s probably no coincidence that promising Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has been linked with the surprise package of Ligue 1, who will be competing in the Champions League next summer after finishing third behind PSG and Marseille.

I don’t know much, if anything about Mendy other than his age, 28, and that he apparently comes with the seal of approval of long-time Chelsea goalkeeper coach and advisor Christophe Lollichon, who used to work at Rennes with one Petr Čech before they eventually both made the jump to the SW6.

Mendy has been capped 8 times by Senegal, and would conceivably be the competition-type signing, rather than the Kepa-replacement-type, but it seems quite likely that’s the route we’re going to have to take. There’s been little to no interest in Kepa thus far, so adding some proper competition for him may be our best and only course of action.

(Meanwhile, potential smart signing Dean Henderson’s future remains undetermined, though he’s back with Manchester United for the time being.)