Chelsea ’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool last weekend highlighted some familiar frailties in Frank Lampard’s squad, some of which he aims to rectify sooner rather than later.
Despite the enormous spending this summer, Chelsea’s transfer business is not ready to quieten down just yet, with a deal for a new goalkeeper close to completion.
The arrival of a flurry of new faces will mean fewer places in Lampard’s squad for fringe players, which suggests some may be moved on to pastures new in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
Emerson Palmieri has been linked with a return to Italy, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s future remains uncertain following his poor display against Brighton & Hove Albion and his omission from the matchday squad against Liverpool.
Here is the latest Chelsea transfer round-up on Tuesday 22nd September.
Lampard confirms Chelsea medical for new goalkeeper
Lampard’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper may be over shortly, as he has confirmed that the club’s medical team are assessing Edouard Mendy ahead of signing off on a £22million move.
Mendy had agreed a deal to sign for the Blues last week but French club Stade Rennais had held up the deal in the hope they could strike an agreement which could see one of Chelsea’s players heading the other way.
With Lampard now having revealed that Mendy is undergoing a medical, it appears the only thing for the club left to do is announce the 28-year-old’s arrival on the club website and official social media channels.
Mendy is widely expected to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga as Chelsea’s No.1, following the Spaniard’s latest error against Liverpool which handed the Premier League champions a second goal.
London swap deal suggested for Premier League winner
Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly engaged in talks surrounding a potential swap deal involving two-time Premier League champion N’Golo Kante, as per the Daily Express.
The Gunners have been interested in Atletico Madrid defensive midfielder Thomas Partey for much of the summer but look increasingly likely to miss out on their top target, which opens the door for alternatives to be considered.
Should a swap deal materialise, Chelsea could in return receive out-of-favour Matteo Guendouzi, who is eight years Kante’s junior.
However, Lampard has previously played down rumours that Kante could be jettisoned to make way for the Blues’ new midfield options. The Chelsea boss admires the work ethic of the World Cup winner and values having him in his squad.
Chelsea youngster headed to France
Blues defender Jake Clarke-Salter is set to complete another loan move this summer, this time venturing out to Stade Brestois in France.
Birmingham Mail reported Clarke-Salter had been a target for Birmingham City in the Championship, but Chelsea were keen on the defender gaining first-team experience at top-flight level.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at St Andrews’ Stadium, where he became a favourite amongst Birmingham supporters.
It appears he will be embarking on just his second top flight loan with Brest, having spent a year with Dutch club Vitesse in 2018/19.
This will be Clarke-Salter’s fifth loan in total, with previous clubs including Bristol Rovers and Sunderland.
With the addition of Thiago Silva, and Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen ahead in the pecking order at centre-back, a loan move seems the most sensible course of action for the former England U-21 defender.
