Mendy loan deal with Galatasaray falls through

PAPY Mendy’s bid to seal a lastminute exit from Leicester City looks to have fallen through, writes Jordan Blackwell.

The midfielder had looked on course to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan on the final day of the Turkish transfer window, but he was unable to get to Istanbul to finalise a switch.

Mendy, who has not been involved in a matchday squad for City this season after picking up a groin injury in the summer, has been in Senegal training with his international team.

His agent, Yacine Ayad, told French media on Tuesday night that an agreement had been reached between City and Galatasaray, but that time was ticking.

Yesterday, Ayad said the deal had fallen through.

“With Galatasaray and Leicester, we tried everything to try to get him to Istanbul on Wednesday,” he told FootMercato.

“But the timing was too tight and did not allow us to be able to carry out the medical examination on time. It is fate.”

Mendy might now face a few months watching from the stands at City if he is omitted from the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.

The 29-year-old midfielder has already been left out of the Europa League squad for the group games, with centre-back Filip Benkovic getting the nod instead.

City need to leave one player aged 21 or over out of their Premier League squad, and if Mendy is the man to miss out, he will only be eligible to feature in Carabao Cup matches between now and January.

City were open to Mendy leaving after Hamza Choudhury’s switch to Newcastle broke down on English clubs’ deadline day.

Mendy was ahead of Choudhury in the midfield pecking order for much of last season, starting 17 games in all competitions.