Chelsea want £22m Mendy to inspire Kepa to perform

Chelsea hope the anticipated arrival of Edouard Mendy will help to push under-fire goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga towards his best form.

Mendy is desperate to move to Stamford Bridge and has urged Rennes to stop haggling over the fee. Rennes failed in a bid to land Olivier Giroud on loan as part of the deal and then attempted to push up the fee from the £18 million Chelsea thought had been close to agreement.

Chelsea are now aiming to tie up the Mendy transfer, with Rennes hoping for a deal worth £22 million, and expect him to immediately challenge Kepa for the No 1 spot.

While he waits for the arrival of

Mendy, head coach Frank Lampard gave Kepa the chance to impress in Chelsea’s opening Premier League victory over Brighton.

The Spaniard made a couple of good saves, but has been blamed for Brighton’s goal after Leandro Trossard’s shot bounced under his outstretched hand and into the net.

Lampard afterwards backed Kepa and stressed that any incoming goalkeeper would be arriving to provide “competition” for the 25-year-old. That is a view shared by Chelsea officials, including technical and performance adviser Petr Cech, who, together with goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon, has been instrumental in the pursuit of Mendy.

With Kepa prepared to stay and fight for his place, and no bids having been received for the player, whose £72 million transfer from Athletic Bilbao remains a world record for a goalkeeper, Chelsea hope that the arrival of Mendy will help him to rediscover his form.