Chelsea are looking to sign Rennes goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Friday’s edition of L’Equipe claims ‘Édouard Mendy gets closer to Chelsea’.
Discussions between two clubs for the 28-year-old started two weeks ago, with the Blues tabling a first offer of €20m, while the French club were hoping to earn ‘no less than €30m’.
Julien Stéphan, the Ligue 1 side’s manager confirmed on Thursday the two clubs are in talks, but insisted they haven’t found an agreement.
According to the report, Rennes gave Frank Lampard’s side permission on Wednesday to talk with the Senegal international and his entourage.
It’s claimed that Chelsea need to settle the ‘final details’ both with Mendy and his employer.
Rennes technical director Florian Maurice has Fikayo Tomori’s name in his list of defender targets.
They are likely negotiating the defender to be included as part of the deal for Mendy, and are ‘hoping to attract’ the 22-year-old to join them on a loan deal.
Tomori has several options, including Everton, but a temporary move to France will see him experience Champions League football.
It’s not clear if Tomori will join Rennes on loan, but the feeling from L’Equipe’s report is that Mendy will sign for Chelsea in the ongoing window.
