Edouard Mendy has reportedly said his goodbyes at Rennes as he prepares to join Chelsea.
The goalkeeper is a target for the Blues as head coach Frank Lampard looks to bring in much-needed competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga who once again came in for criticism following the 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday night.
And whilst Mendy won't be available to face Liverpool this weekend, his agent Djily Dieng, has said that an agreement has finally been reached for the £20million-rated Senegal international.
"The two parties have come to an agreement," he said, as per the Metro. "All that’s left is the formalisation. It could even be done [Friday], if all goes well.
"Afterwards, the player himself will come to finalise everything, including having his medical examination."
However, Friday passed without an announcement and according to L'Equipe - via Get French Football News - there is still no final agreement between Rennes and Chelsea.
With that said, what Mendy has done would suggest a deal is close.
The same report states that the 28-year-old said goodbye to his Rennes teammates on Friday and looks set to miss their home game against AS Monaco on Saturday evening.
The importance of a goalkeeper is not lost on Jamie Carragher who says Chelsea must sign one in order to win the Premier League title.
"Their spending has been at the top-end of the pitch and until they rectify the goalkeeper situation, I don’t think Chelsea have any chance of winning the Premier League," he said. "You only have to look at Pep Guardiola’s first season in England, Jurgen Klopp’s first 18 months, until they sign goalkeepers.
"They make the real difference. If Chelsea sign a top goalkeeper, I think that will make a big difference.
"Also, to be fair to Chelsea and Frank, the expenditure in this summer is almost three or four transfer windows of money getting spent in one go in some ways.
"They couldn’t sign any players last season, they’ve still got the Hazard money and the Morata money.
"The stuff they’re talking about, how much they’ve actually spent, it is club money in some ways, but until they change the ‘keeper, they haven’t got a chance."
