Chelsea’s Premier League journey this season has been far from satisfactory. With 17 games into the season, the team languishes in tenth place. They are trailing far behind the Champions League spots and uncomfortably close to the lower ranks.
Under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, the Blues have struggled to find their winning rhythm despite substantial spending in recent transfer windows. In the looming January transfer window, Chelsea appears poised to further invest. Surprisingly, the focus might not solely be on bolstering their striking options.
Recent reports from Spain have linked Chelsea with Real Madrid’s speedy left-back, Ferland Mendy. This unexpected interest hints at potential trouble for current Chelsea left-backs Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella. The Blues seem eager to heighten competition in this area, especially given Cucurella’s lackluster impact and Chilwell’s mounting injury concerns.
Chelsea eyes accessible deal for Ferland Mendy
The report suggests that Mendy’s limited game time at Real Madrid could facilitate an accessible deal for Chelsea, offering them a quality full-back at a seemingly reasonable price. CIES Football Observatory values the 28-year-old Frenchman at around €15m, making it a potentially lucrative deal considering Mendy’s prowess.
Mendy’s contract is about to expire in less than two years (summer of 2025). Therefore, Real Madrid might be inclined to negotiate a sale below market value to avoid pre-contract signing in January 2025.
Comparisons between Mendy and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker by FBref underline their similarity in composed possession play, elevating Mendy into the top 1% among European peers for pass completion. Although Mendy’s potential arrival could threaten Chilwell’s starting spot, his statistical edge in passing and aerial duels over Chilwell and Cucurella signifies an upgrade for Chelsea’s left-back position.
If Chelsea secures Mendy close to his estimated value, he could elevate the team’s defensive quality and replicate the impact that Walker has had for Manchester City, proving to be a significant acquisition for the Blues.
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