Chelsea Determined To Land Rennes Goalkeeper Mendy

Chelsea FC is determined to add a reliable goalkeeper and one target is Edouard Mendy. Stade Rennais FC has fended off previous bids but the Blues are not yet ready to give up on the 28-year-old shot-stopper.

After pitching an improved bid for Mendy, there has been no word on whether Rennes is ready to talk deal with the Blues. Chelsea is ready to spend up to $33 million for the French goalie, including add-ons to close the deal, Goal reported.

The new numbers are far better to the $24 million bid that the Blues dangled to the Breton side. Rennes thumbed down that pitch. The Blues have been keeping tabs with Mendy for some time now.

Lampard wants to improve his goalkeeping position, discontent with the performances of Kepa Arrizabalag and Willy Caballero. Aside from Mendy, the Blues are also linked to Mike Maignan of Lille.

Chelsea's interest in Mendy is understandable. He had an impressive showing last season for Rennes, helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time. They ended up settling for a third-place finish at Ligue 1.

With no clarity on whether the Blues can scoop Mendy from Rennes, Lampard may have to skim the market for other shot-stoppers. In a previous post, the Blues signed Teddy Sharman-Lowe in what could be an investment for the future.

Though Sharman-Lowe was signed with the contract details under wraps, he will continue to play on loan at Burton Albion. But for the Blues, the need to improve their goalkeeping position is immediate.

Despite the heavy spending that Chelsea has done as of late, Lampard wants to get someone who can do better goalkeeping. Kepa and Caballero have been trying to hold up the fort but their efforts have hardly impressed the Blues manager.

Dean Henderson of Manchester United and Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid were mentioned as targets the past months. Henderson is no longer available after signing a fresh deal with Manchester United. Oblak, on the other hand, will cost the Blues roughly $145 million to sign. Mendy costs a whole lot less at about $20 million. The only problem here is that Rennes is not looking to deal away the French shot-stopper.